Government u-turn on college fee remission policy

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published a press release this week which says that within current budgets, colleges will be able to offer free, fully-subsidised training to learners that under existing policies would have been charged a fee.

Policy changes announced in November 2010 stated that only learners on particular ‘active’ benefits, such as Job Seekers Allowance, would be eligible for fully-subsidised courses.

However the BIS statement this week reads: “FE providers will also be given some local discretion to provide fully subsidised courses for people on a wider range of benefits – provided the training is to help them enter employment”.

Skills Minister John Hayes said: “Today’s announcement marks a new phase in this process. It is good news for people who are currently reliant on benefits but want to get into work, and good news for employers looking for a local supply of the right skills to help their businesses to grow.”

Geoff Russell, Chief Executive of the Skills Funding Agency said: “This decision is another example of putting freedom and flexibility into practice. We will now make this explicit in our funding rules.”

Martin Doel, Association of Colleges Chief Executive, said: “We are grateful that Government has listened to AoC and member concerns relating to this issue, and for the trust they have placed in Colleges in granting them the freedoms to allow students on inactive benefits to progress into employment. We await further clarification in the guidance notes due to be published by the Department.

“We are pleased that this announcement recognises the pivotal role Colleges have in economic growth and jobs – the distinction being made between funding courses for individuals receiving inactive and active benefits was threatening to compromise their ability to perform that role. College courses are an important route into employment for many people on benefits, irrespective of the type of benefit.”

FE Week will be contacting colleges to get their reaction to this, the second late change to fees policy for the 2011/12 academic year.

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below, and read our FE Week expert’s view by clicking here.

Peter Jones enterprise academy to launch in the West Midlands

BBC Dragon Peter Jones has increased his interest in further education by launching his first academy in the West Midlands.

From September, Solihull College will be home to the Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship for youngsters aged 16 to 19 after becoming the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy (PJEA) West Midlands Hub.

The aim of the course is to “shift the boardroom into the classroom” equipping the future generation of businessmen with the skills and ambition to aim higher by giving experience of business life.

Kate Angel, Business Enterprise Manager for PJEA, said: “This is a really exciting time for the College.

“We will be giving young people the chance to study a new enterprise qualification, designed to hep them realise and achieve their business dreams.

“As part of the course, students will work on real-life business challenges and interact with employers to prepare them for their entrepreneurial careers.”

The diploma is delivered at two levels dependent on experience.

The Level Two involves developing a viable business idea, creating a full business plan, and pitching to investors.

However, Level Three supports students in setting up and running a micro-business for at least four months, during which time they will learn about planning and finance, communicating with customers, and planning for future expansion.

The National Enterprise Academy is the brainchild of Peter Jones and was set up in September 2009 as a non-profit educational institution dedicated to teaching enterprise and entrepreneurship.

– The college is hosting a PJEA Awareness Session at its Blossomfield Campus on August 17 at 4pm.

Alternatively, for more, visit www.solihull.ac.uk/pjea or call 0121 678 7000.

Foundation Degree awarding powers granted to FE colleges for the first time

Newcastle College Group and New College Durham are the first FE colleges to be granted Foundation Degree awarding powers in England.

The announcement last week follows an intensive scrutiny process by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.

Stephen Jackson, Director of Reviews at the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) told FE Week: “After working with Newcastle College and New College Durham and carefully considering the evidence, we were assured about the quality of student experience that each college provides, and their systems and procedures for establishing and maintaining academic standards.”

The development is a significant breakthrough for the Further Education sector and allows both New College Durham and Newcastle College Group to validate the foundation degrees which they currently offer.

Dame Jackie Fisher, Chief Executive of Newcastle College Group, told FE Week: “We are delighted to be able to award our own Foundation Degrees.

“Foundation Degree awarding powers creates a platform for us to forge ahead with our plans for Taught Degree awarding powers and gives us the opportunity to provide students with degrees that will give them the skills to get jobs and progress in their careers.”

Newcastle College Group plans to develop new degrees which satisfy national industry demands, such as jobs in the renewable energy sector.

The college is the country’s largest provider of Higher Education in an FE environment and offers more than 85 Foundation and Honours Degrees.

Newcastle College Group recently announced that it would charge a maximum of £5,800 for HE tuition fees, a figure significantly lower than that of many rival HE institutions.

Update:

FE Week has since spoken to Business Secretary Dr Vince Cable, who said: “Foundation degrees have grown in popularity in recent years, with around 100,000 students enrolled in them last year. We want to increase the study choices for students by enabling FE colleges to offer higher education qualifications; they can often do so in a more flexible way.”

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: “I am delighted that the first two further education colleges have now been awarded foundation degree awarding powers. We want to ensure that institutions offering high quality work-focussed degrees can compete on a level playing field for prospective students.”