Sustainable Development in the FE and Skills sector

1. Sustainable Development in the FE and Skills sector Debbie Watson Director of Policy & Innovation 26th February 2009

2. What do we mean by Sustainable Development • Quality of life for current and future generations • Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs • This means meeting four goals simultaneously • Social progress that recognises the needs of everyone • Effective protection of the environment • Prudent use of natural resources • The maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment

3. LSC Strategy: From Here to Sustainability • Our Vision The learning and skills sector will proactively commit and contribute to sustainable development through: • its management of resources • the learning opportunities it delivers • its engagement with communities and business

4. LSC Strategy: From Here to Sustainability The strategy has four themes which aim to deliver the vision: • Positioning the sector and capacity building • Buildings and estates • Curriculum • Community and business

5. What does this mean? • Changing how we think and behave as an organisation so that we become an example of good practice • Championing change in the FE system: working with national, regional and local partners to maximise the contribution the FE system can make to sustainable development

6. What progress have we made? • Conclusions of progress report published September 2008: • Recognise the contribution of our mainstream work • Significant progress has been made in some areas but not in others • Measures of progress need clarifying • Changing context including abolition of LSC • Gaps in the strategy

7. Progress Report Conclusions • Recognise the contribution of our mainstream work e.g. • PSA target for young people • PSA target for adult basic skills • Communications about the value of learning and skills

8. Progress Report Conclusions • Significant progress has been made in some areas of the strategy e.g. • Capital • Sorted resources • Regional pilot projects • Internal LSC actions • But not in others e.g. • Education for Sustainable Development • Collaborative working

9. Progress Report Conclusions • Measures of progress need clarifying • Strategy does not identify clear targets • Ownership of milestones is not clear • No systemic reporting mechanisms in place

10. Progress Report Conclusions Changing Context • Funding priorities • Demand-led system • Abolition of LSC and creation of SFA and YPLA

11. Progress Report Conclusions • Gaps in the Strategy • Communications • Sector leadership

12. Priorities to 2010 • Developing further resources • Celebrating good practice • Zero Carbon Colleges • Skills for a low carbon and resource efficient economy • Working across the whole FE and Skills sector • Embedding SD in the organisations that will succeed the LSC

13. Beyond 2010 • Not clear yet whether there is a role for SFA or YPLA to lead on this agenda - • Role of provider organisations in the sector? • Role of Learning and Skills Improvement Service? • Role of Ofsted? • Role of DIUS? • Most importantly role of individual providers: • “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever does” • Margaret Mead