Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
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Further education colleges given powers to award their own foundation degrees
Further education institutions in England can now apply for powers to award their own Foundation degrees under new regulations that came into force on 1 May.
To remain competitive in the global economy, the Government is committed to increasing the proportion of workers with high level skills, from the 31 per cent level already achieved to over 40 per cent by 2020.
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is supporting the development of new types of higher education provision to complement traditional models because three quarters of the 2020 workforce have already left compulsory education. This will include more flexible courses designed and co-funded by employers.
Foundation degrees are higher education qualifications designed in co-operation between education institutions and employers. Courses combine academic study with workplace learning enabling individuals to develop their careers whilst helping business to retain talent and increase productivity
Minister of State for Further and Higher Education Bill Rammell said:
"I want to ensure that our further and higher education systems are as flexible and responsive as possible to meet the needs of learners and employers. This reform will allow the leading providers of higher education in the further education sector greater autonomy, if they can show that they have earned it.
"Foundation degrees, developed with employers, are exactly the sort of courses which we are looking to encourage through our recently launched High Level Skills Strategy consultation. Colleges with the capacity and motivation to provide these programmes should be allowed to do so.
"Foundation degrees continue to grow in popularity as both students and employers appreciate the innovative nature of these qualifications and research published today shows we are well on the way towards meeting our ambition for 100,000 Foundation degree students by 2010."
Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges Martin Doel said:
"This new power to validate their own foundation degrees will give colleges even more flexibility to meet business needs and build on their strong track-record of engaging with employers. It is also an important step towards increasing access for those who would not have traditionally entered higher education, while expanding the availability of 'alternative' routes to university - a third of current foundation degree students progress to further learning, the majority on an Honours degree."
Colleges interested in obtaining powers to award Foundation degrees must apply to the Privy Council, who will receive advice from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills based on an assessment of the applicant institution made by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Notes to Editors
* A report issued today by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) entitled 'Foundation degrees: key statistics 2001-02 to 2007-08' shows that 93 higher education institutions and 260 further education colleges were involved with foundation degree provision in 2005-06. Since their first year in 2001-02, the number of foundation degree students has grown from 4,300 to almost 72,000 in 2007-08. A total of 44 per cent are taught wholly or partly in higher education institutions and 56 per cent wholly at further education colleges, The full report is available on the HEFCE website at http://www.hefce.ac.uk
* In January 2003 The Government White Paper 'The Future of Higher Education announced the allocation of £32m over three years (2003 - 2006) to support the development of Foundation degrees in key employment sectors and the creation of a national network - Foundation Degree Forward (fdf) - to act as a centre of expertise and to provide a validation brokering service.
* Fdf lists around 2500 different Foundation degree courses running with 800 more in development. (Courses are listed on their website http://www.fdf.ac.uk along with case studies from students, employers and providers to illustrate the range of provision).
* The High Level Skills Strategy consultation, 'Higher Education at Work: High Skills: High Value', is running from 14 April to 7 July 2008. For more information please see the following link: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=365333&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False
