Sustainable Development in the FE and Skills sector

1
Sustainable Development in the FE and Skills
sector

• Debbie Watson
• Director of Policy Innovation
• 26th February 2009

2
What do we mean by Sustainable Development

• Quality of life for current and future
  generations
• Development which meets the needs of the present
  without compromising the ability of future
  generations to meet their own needs
• This means meeting four goals simultaneously
• Social progress that recognises the needs of
  everyone
• Effective protection of the environment
• Prudent use of natural resources
• The maintenance of high and stable levels of
  economic growth and employment

3
LSC Strategy From Here to Sustainability

• Our Vision
• The learning and skills sector will proactively
  commit and contribute to sustainable development
  through
• its management of resources
• the learning opportunities it delivers
• its engagement with communities and business

4
LSC Strategy From Here to Sustainability

• The strategy has four themes which aim to
  deliver the vision
• Positioning the sector and capacity building
• Buildings and estates
• Curriculum
• Community and business

5
What does this mean?

• Changing how we think and behave as an
  organisation so that we become an example of good
  practice
• Championing change in the FE system working with
  national, regional and local partners to maximise
  the contribution the FE system can make to
  sustainable development

6
What progress have we made?

• Conclusions of progress report published
  September 2008
• Recognise the contribution of our mainstream work
• Significant progress has been made in some areas
  but not in others
• Measures of progress need clarifying
• Changing context including abolition of LSC
• Gaps in the strategy

7
Progress Report Conclusions

• Recognise the contribution of our mainstream work
  e.g.
• PSA target for young people
• PSA target for adult basic skills
• Communications about the value of learning and
  skills

8
Progress Report Conclusions

• Significant progress has been made in some areas
  of the strategy e.g.
• Capital
• Sorted resources
• Regional pilot projects
• Internal LSC actions
• But not in others e.g.
• Education for Sustainable Development
• Collaborative working

9
Progress Report Conclusions

• Measures of progress need clarifying
• Strategy does not identify clear targets
• Ownership of milestones is not clear
• No systemic reporting mechanisms in place

10
Progress Report Conclusions

• Changing Context
• Funding priorities
• Demand-led system
• Abolition of LSC and creation of SFA and YPLA

11
Progress Report Conclusions

• Gaps in the Strategy
• Communications
• Sector leadership

12
Priorities to 2010

• Developing further resources
• Celebrating good practice
• Zero Carbon Colleges
• Skills for a low carbon and resource efficient
  economy
• Working across the whole FE and Skills sector
• Embedding SD in the organisations that will
  succeed the LSC

13
Beyond 2010

• Not clear yet whether there is a role for SFA or
  YPLA to lead on this agenda -
• Role of provider organisations in the sector?
• Role of Learning and Skills Improvement Service?
• Role of Ofsted?
• Role of DIUS?
• Most importantly role of individual providers
• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
  committed citizens can change the world. Indeed
  it is the only thing that ever does
• Margaret Mead