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Further Education and Training Bill [HL]

I support my noble friend Lady Morris on her Amendments Nos. 46 and 47. I thank my noble friend for the thorough and interesting work she has added to the debate. I agree with the arrangements proposed in Clause 19 that will allow for further education institutions to apply for powers to validate their own foundation degrees and enable the Privy Council to grant institutions the power to award foundation degrees. That will mean that most students will benefit from the opportunities created by foundation degrees while colleges will be able to respond more quickly to employers’ needs. That being said, the potential break-up of further and higher education concerns me. There are currently 275 further education colleges offering foundation degrees. Of these, it is expected that only a small number, mostly from the Mixed Economy Group of colleges which currently provide 14 per cent of all foundation provision, will wish to apply for the foundation degree-awarding power. That will weaken the brand of UK universities internationally if further education colleges are permitted to award foundation degrees. They will be seen as further education qualifications, undermining their credibility with employers who view them as a fragile new qualification. Furthermore, the proposal will potentially jeopardise the partnerships built up between further education colleges and universities. They will be competing with each other instead of working together for the further development of learners. It is not clear whether this measure is intended to boost the status of colleges or whether it is a gamble to increase numbers to meet targets. I welcome the aforementioned amendments as, in this case, a market solution is not necessarily in the best interests of learners. It is important that colleges continue to work in conjunction with universities. Further education institutions will have a more equal role in foundation degree courses with their higher education partner and in some cases a greater role. Surely the Minister will welcome this compromise as the college and university partnership is vital to the betterment of our education system.