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Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru |
National Assembly for Wales |
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Pwyllgor yr Economi, Seilwaith a Sgiliau |
Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee |
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Partneriaeth Sgiliau Rhanbarthol |
Regional Skills Partnerships |
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EIS(5) RSP02 |
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Ymateb gan Coleg Merthyr Tudful |
Evidence from Merthyr Tydfil College |
Introduction:The response provided here reflects the views of Merthyr Tydfil College, a subsidiary company of the University of South Wales. The response is an observation of how arrangements in the South-East region are currently working as the college is not in a position to give detailed comments on partnership arrangements in operation in the north or south west.
The data used by the region is at a high level
and does not reflect labour market trends at a local level. As a
result there is not necessarily a fit between demand for learning
at local and regional level. This situation does not help or
support reliable and accurate short and medium term curriculum
planning. In Merthyr Tydfil, for example, there is a buoyant retail
sector which has been further strengthened through the relocation
of Trago Mills to the town. This has not been identified in
regional labour market information data.
Whilst some large employers are formally represented on the RSP
Board, there is a lack of engagement with some of the larger
providers in Merthyr Tydfil including the local health board.
Dialogue with these providers is essential in shaping the demand
for employment into the future.
The views of skills providers are formally represented in the RSP. However the level of representation has been queried by the colleges given that there is greater representation of FE in the other RSPs. This does not seem right given the significantly greater size of the South-East region and the larger number of colleges operating in it.
There seems to be a lack of clarity currently
around the administrative arrangements and organisation of the RSP.
There is not a clear statement of the governance arrangements,
rights of representation or the organisational structure below
Board level. The role the RSP is unclear for example in the
approval process of the college outline and final delivery plans-
at present dialogue has been with welsh government officials only
with no involvement of RSPs.
No. Whilst the aspiration of welsh government in the recently
published Employability Action plan is to shape training around
level 3-4 technical provision, there is considerable need in
Merthyr Tydfil to develop the basic skills levels of the employed
and unemployed. Whilst the college recognises the importance of
STEM focussed training to provide the future workforce with these
high level technical skills, lower level programmes are also needed
in the STEM areas and in the Foundation economy for example to
reduce disengagement in learning and NEETS and to provide
progression routes into apprenticeships and higher level
programmes.
The RSP has not considered the potential
challenges posed by Brexit yet in any detail and the impact that
this will have on future skills needs. The college through it`s own
engagement with employers across the region know that there are
certain sectors who anticipate major skills related impact
including engineering, hospitality, health and care and
tourism.
The RSP has recognised the importance of the foundational economy in its various skills plans and assessments, although these are at a high level rather than being locally based. The RSP has established that it recognises the sector, and in particular health and social care, as a priority skills sector for the region.
There has not been any significant consideration
of the demand for skills provision through the medium of Welsh in
any dialogue the college has had with the RSP.
No. The RSP has developed around a number of
participant groups who have volunteered time, supplemented by a
very small staff team. This has not been sufficient to address the
growing role of the RSP. Likewise attendance at meetings has been
poor and some sector groups have not met for a considerable period
of time. In time it is crucial that the role of the RSP does not
duplicate the work of welsh government particularly in relation to
the planning of the curriculum with all providers.
No. The RSP view is shaped by high level labour
market information and lacks the detail required for planning
purposes at a local level. There is a mismatch between the views of
providers who emphasise the need for programmes at level 1 and 2 to
begin to skill the workforce of the future and the view of the RSP
that the curriculum should be focussed in the majority of cases
around level 3 and 4 programmes in the STEM areas
For further education and work based learning, the detail is appropriate. There is significant detail provided to the RSP around further education and work based learning provision from both the college and work based sectors. The RSP expresses an opinion on the sectors and provision that should be grown and those areas where there should be a reduction. There is a collaborative approach with all colleges in the region, although meetings have been infrequent, and there is a detailed consideration of the RSPs stated priorities which in turn informs curriculum planning. Performance against this is then monitored and is reported on to Welsh Government. The role of the RSP`s is unclear in this process and dialogue in the majority of cases is with welsh government only.
Merthyr Tydfil College is not aware of the
approach taken with Higher education institutions.
As explained above, much of the RSP approach does emphasise higher level skills, as does Welsh Government’s approach. However, the provision of skills for adults at all levels are required and in particular at levels 1 and 2 – there is clear evidence that many adults and young people require access to support the development of literacy, digital literacy and numeracy. These requirements are an essential precursor to gaining higher level technical and vocational skills for many people and to reduce NEETS across each local authority area.
To an extent yes. There have been managed increases in, and reductions in, particular areas of the FE and work based learning curriculum in response to RSP identified sector priorities. However, a significant and sustained growth of provision generally in the STEM area at a regional level will require more young people to be encouraged to pursue this throughout their education – and this falls outside of the influence of the RSP. Consideration of the A level curriculum which provides a significant amount of STEM related courses, in Merthyr Tydfil , for example, is currently not considered as part of discussions with DFES and the RSP.
RSPs are being given increasing influence over the prioritisation and spending of around £400m of public money. The view of Merthyr Tydfil College is that robust and transparent governance arrangements need to be in place which are understood by both employers and all educational providers. The current situation does not demonstrate this and Merthyr Tydfil college would welcome the development of it and looks forward to continuing to play a central part in the future development of RSPs.