Back to top

UK: national strategy to boost VET exports

A new national strategy for the export of UK vocational and education and training (VET) could lead to a "step change” in the way providers do business, industry body TVET UK has claimed. The UK government announced the development of the strategy earlier this month, pledging support for the underfunded sector.
May 30 2012
2 Min Read

A new national strategy for the export of vocational and education and training (VET) could lead to a “step change” in the way UK providers do business, industry body TVET UK has claimed.

The comments come after the UK government announced the development of a strategy earlier this month, pledging to support the sector which many claim has been underfunded and undersold abroad.

Matthew Anderson, executive director of TVET UK, which is dedicated to promoting VET abroad, told The PIE News: “Despite historical underfunding of export in the sector, Britain still holds its own against the megabucks Germans and other nations like Canada with significant government support. This announcement ‘could’ go some way to redressing that [lack of support].”

Anderson said TVET, whose members range from equipment suppliers and colleges to private training providers and awarding bodies,  was well placed to help the government in formulating the strategy over the next 18 months. The body has links with 76 countries and has generated £20m-£25m for the sector through its trade missions.

Currently there are only around 20 internationally commercially active UK VET colleges, constituting a small percentage of overall revenue in the sector (with the bulk coming from equipment and bigger specialist training providers).

However, a coherent strategy for the sector could have a trickle down effect and help education providers capitalise on opportunities. “There is a significant rise in interest in skills training in general with the biggest driver being the Arab spring. Governments can no longer afford to focus just on HE and ignore those opportunities,” Anderson said.

He said the sector also needed to overcome internal challenges, such as “expecting instant returns for little investment” and “the overblown perception of the risk”.

Governments can no longer afford to focus just on HE and ignore those opportunities

“People are suspicious and guarded and this limits the type of work the sector can win. For example one college or training provider can pick up 100% of £50,000, but fails to realise that in consortium they can pick up 10% of £1 million,” he said.

While details of the strategy are yet to be revealed, the Association of Colleges (AoC) has already undertaken a survey of key stakeholders in the sector and identified “themes” to guide the plan. Anderson said these could lead to “concrete actions” in the coming weeks.

2
Comments
Add Your Opinion
Show Response
Leave Your Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *