AoC responds to London Higher report

Responding to the publication of London Higher’s report looking at college-university collaboration, David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges said:

“As this timely report recognises, there is much that can be achieved when the FE and HE sectors work together for the greater good - and the pockets of excellent practice across London demonstrates this.

“As college and university leaders and policy-makers across the system, we need to make the case that building a more coherent, balanced and cohesive tertiary system that works nationally and locally must be a priority for Westminster and City Hall.

“A national strategy from Government must look at how we fund the whole system, readdress the stark cuts to non-HE adult education, and think about how to manage the balance between institutional priorities and the wider needs of the system. We cannot be lured into a survival of the fittest approach, as funding pressures bite across the system.

“However, we cannot wait for policy makers to address the system failings, and as sector leaders, we need to give attention to the work we can lead on locally, and be both ambitious in responsibilities towards people, employers and communities across London, and humble in recognising this cannot be done alone.

“There is no one-size-fits all model: different approaches will be right and appropriate in different places, recognising local geographies, local needs, and the nature of existing relationships. “