Memorandum 114
Memorandum from Swindon College
Swindon College is very concerned that the Governments'
announcement to remove funding for the teaching of students studying
for qualifications equivalent to, or lower than, qualifications
for which they have previously received an award (ELQs) will have
a widespread negative impact.
Swindon College has a strong and successful
working relationship with local employers in providing opportunities
to re-train, and update the professional skills of employees.
Programmes such as our Higher National Certificates
and Diplomas are well established and highly regarded by employers,
and neither they, nor the College would welcome any threat to
their continued success. Our range of Foundation Degrees have
been developed in collaboration with employers and are gaining
popularity locally.
By the very nature of widening participation,
many of our students will be adversely affected by the removal
of this funding and will discontinue their lifelong learning because
they cannot afford it.
In turn, as a provider, Swindon College may
also deem these programmes to no longer be viable.
The Leitch review showed how as a country we
will increasingly need people to learn new skills, to meet the
demands of a constantly changing economy, yet the government has
decided to limit the very re-training that will ensure the needs
of the labour market are being met.
Swindon College suggests that the government
defer this decision until it has carried out a full and proper
consultation with ALL relevant stakeholders.
January 2008
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