Birkbeck Joins Coalition Calling for Review of Government’s Higher Education and Lifelong Learning Policies

Birkbeck, University of London, has joined a coalition of 11 leading organisations in the lifelong learning and skills sector to call on the next Government to review its approach to post-16 education, including higher education and lifelong learning.

The call, which has been made ahead of the forthcoming General Election, sets out ten policy priorities for the next government to overcome barriers to post-16 education and ensure it effectively supports the UK to address the major challenges it faces.

The policy priorities are:

1. Urgently review Department of Education policy on post -16 education, higher education and lifelong learning.
2. Reform the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) so it supports all who need it and not just those studying at levels 4 to 6.
3. Produce a sustainable long-term strategy for a post-16 tertiary sector that embodies a vision of lifelong learning.
4. Ensure apprenticeships are available across all sectors and implement a new growth levy.
5. Develop a comprehensive, national all-age Careers Information, Advice, and Guidance (CIAG) service.
6. Assess and bring together investment related to skills, lifelong learning, and post-16 education made by different government departments.
7. Address the under-investment across post-16 learning, further and higher education, and skills.
8. Regional strategic planning for post-16 education to maximise the benefits of devolution in tandem with initiatives already being planned for skills, apprenticeships, and adult education, by elected mayors, combined authorities and local government.
9. Lift the current block on maintenance support for distance learners and other vulnerable groups.
10. Review skills related tax relief entitlement for employers.

The ten ‘Future Priorities for Lifelong Learning, Skills and Tertiary Education’ (link to paper here) have been developed by the Right 2 Learn (R2L) campaign, which advocates for a policy agenda that supports the right to learn for all, throughout life.

Birkbeck has pledged its support for ‘Future Priorities for Lifelong Learning, Skills and Tertiary Education’ alongside Careers England, Career Development Institute, City and Guilds, DMH Associates, Learning and Work Institute, LTE Group, National Education Opportunities Network (NEON), University of Salford, Respublica, TechUK, University Association of Lifelong Learning (UALL) and Professor Deirdre Hughes OBE.

Professor Sally Wheeler, OBE, Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck said:

“The need to review the post-16 education sector to ensure it effectively supports lifelong learning for all and the future prosperity of the UK economy is more pressing than ever.

“New technologies, including artificial intelligence, are altering many traditional jobs and increasing the need for adults to develop new skill sets to keep pace with the changing demands of employers.

“Birkbeck is well-placed to support adults to learn throughout their lives. We were founded over 200 years ago to do so, and we provide a high-quality university education that people can fit around their busy lives, but higher education policy is stacked against lifelong learners and organisations that deliver it. This is why Birkbeck supports the call on the next government to urgently review its approach to post-16 education, including higher education and lifelong learning.”