§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what programmes are sponsored by his Department to ensure that(a) higher educational courses and (b) vocational training are responsive to forecast demand in the labour market. [136031]
§ Alan JohnsonThere are a number of programmes that are responding to forecast labour market demands. In higher education they include: the expansion of Foundation Degrees, New Technology Institutes (NTI), the Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund, Aim higher and the Enhancing Student Employability Coordination Team (ESECT).
In terms of vocational training, programmes such as Modern Apprenticeships and Advanced Modern Apprenticeships are designed to meet existing and future labour market needs. The Higher Education Funding Council and the Learning and Skills Council are working closely with the Skills for Business network and Regional Development Agencies to ensure that vocational qualifications meet the needs of local, regional and national labour markets. Further information is included in 21st Century Skills: Realising our Potential.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the vocational training programmes recognised by his Department are structured in such a way that it is possible by undertaking additional further courses of study to obtain a degree level qualification. [136032]
§ Alan JohnsonAll programmes at Level 3 in the National Qualifications Framework have the potential to allow students to undertake further courses of study to obtain a degree level qualification.
In particular reformed Advanced Modern Apprenticeship frameworks now include technical certificates. These are taken in addition to NVQ at Level 3 to assess underpinning occupational knowledge. Their inclusion in frameworks now allows for easier progression to higher education for those with the aptitude to do so.
We are also expanding the number of Foundation Degrees available, with 10,000 extra places from next year. These are new qualifications and provide opportunities for individuals to progress to full honours degrees.
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§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the evidential basis is for the statement in the Higher Education White paper that 80 per cent. of future jobs will require education to level 4. [136456]
§ Alan JohnsonThe White Paper stated that
'Between 1999 and 2010 the number of jobs in higher level occupations—the ones most likely to be filled by those who have been through higher education—will grow by over one and a half million. That represents 80 per cent. of new jobs over the decade'.This forecast is based on work carried out by the Institute for Employment Research in 2001: 'Projections of Occupations and Qualifications 2000/01: Research in Support of the National Skills Task Force', Department for Education and Employment. The research estimated that out of the 2.1 million new jobs expected to be created between 1999 and 2010, 1.7 million (or 80 per cent.) will be in the top three occupational groups. These are the jobs which require the sorts of skills that can be acquired through Higher Education.