Minutes of the 27 August 2015 Skills Committee meeting

Transcription

1 SFC/15/48* Agenda item September 2015 Minutes of the 27 August 2015 Skills Committee meeting Key advice to SDS/SFC Boards Advice to SFC and SDS Boards Both SFC and SDS Boards should: On the DYW: SDS and SFC Joint Plan Progress Report item: note the points raised by the Committee, in particular: SDS and SFC should continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and ensure there is a clear communication plan; and SDS and SFC should consider developing a rating system to clearly identify the current status of actions within the framework. On Scottish Government Employability Consultation: note the feedback of the discussion of the Skills Committee, in particular: That the future services don t lose what currently works; Any future programmes should also focus on supporting people once they get into work and keeping them in work, not just on getting them into work. The programmes should also consider the quality of work that people enter from the programme Importance of clarity around the purpose of any programme so that we can be sure that success measures are aligned to this purpose; and The need to ensure we fully consider the implications and potential consequences of any changes that are implemented On Review of Energy SIP: note the summary of the discussion of the Skills Committee, in particular: The Committee encourages SDS to review all evidence available when refreshing the Skills Investment Plans, which includes developing relationships with SQA s Accreditation team.

2 On Gender Action Plan update: note the summary of the discussion of the Skills Committee, in particular: That SFC should continue engaging as widely as possible with the aim to develop a gender action plan that ensures that people are well informed when making decisions about courses and future careers. 2

3 SC/15/Min 3 Agenda item 3 27August 2015 Unconfirmed Skills Committee The twenty fourthmeeting of the Skills Committee of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) was held at 12.30pm on Thursday 27 August 2015 at Universities Scotland Offices, Holyrood Park house, 106 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS. Present: Officers: Paul McKelvie (Chair) Dr Allan Colquhoun Doreen Davidson Gordon Grant Sylvia Halkerston Rob Henthorn Professor Ewart Keep Stuart Leitch Donald MacRae Barry McCulloch Lorraine McMillan Douglas Mundie Professor Anton Muscatelli Grahame Smith Caroline Stuart John Kemp (SFC) Louise Lauchlan (SFC) Hazel Macdonald (SFC) Alison Malcolm (SFC) David Coyne (SDS) Gordon McGuinness (SDS) Karen Nimmo (SDS) Paul Zealey (SDS) 3

4 Observers and guests: Apologies: Carroll Buxton (Highlands and Islands Enterprise) Linda Hanna (Scottish Enterprise) Laura Hewitt (SQA item 7 only) Mike McElhinney (Scottish Government) John McMorris (SQA sub for Janet Brown) Amanda Brown Dr Janet Brown Vaughan Hart Craig Mahoney Moira McKerracher Patricia Rainey Ken Thomson Graeme Waddell 1 Welcome by the Chair and apologies The Chair welcomed members, guests and observers including new member Rob Henthorn, taking over from Robert Foster as the NUS Scotland representative and new observer Carroll Buxton, taking over from Charlotte Wright as the representative from Highlands and islands Enterprise. The Chair also mentioned a special note of thanks to Universities Scotland for hosting the meeting at their offices. Apologieswerenoted as above. 2 Declarations of interest The Chair reminded Committee members of their responsibility to indicate if they had, or may be perceived to have, a conflict of interest under any item. 3 Minute of 14 May (SC/15/Min 2) The Committee received the unconfirmed minutes of the meeting of the 14th of May, which the Chair advised had been to both Boards with the advice endorsed. The Committee agreed the minutes as an accurate record of the meeting. 4

5 4 Chair s business and matters arising (SC/15/11) The Committee noted this paper updating members on matters arising and work undertaken by the Chair since the last meeting of the Committee. The Chair asked Committee members if they were content for starred items to be taken without discussion, which was accepted as proposed. The Chair advised that the Digital Skills paper was going to the Committee as an update. The Chair also asked the executive to give consideration as to how the development of the ICT Digital sector can feed into Invest in Youth Groups. The Chair highlighted the SFC Board Skills Workshop on 21 August and thanked Skills Committee members Allan Colquhoun, Doreen Davidson and Sylvia Halkerston for their contributions towards the discussions. The challenge of measuring the output of the Skills and Employability agenda within outcome agreements was acknowledged and the Chair asked that the Executive consider how best to support this aim. Members were notified that SDS Corporate Plan has now been published and a hard copy will be sent to them and thatsfc sstrategic Plan is awaiting Ministerial approval and will then be published. The Chair announced that this would be his last meeting as Chair as his term as a member of SFC s Board is ending. He has been asked to remain as Vice Chair of the Committee (as a continuing member of the SDS board). The Chair announced that, SFC Board member, Lorraine McMillan has been appointed as the new Skills Committee Chair. The Committee reviewed the advice tracker and forward plan and the Chair confirmed that a paper will come to the next Committee meeting to discuss the changing policy landscape and to look at the divergence of skills policy across the UK. 5 Developing the Young Workforce (DYW): SDS and SFC Joint Plan Progress Report (SC/15/12) The Chair invited Gordon McGuinness (SDS) to introduce the item. The following key points were outlined by Gordon: 5

6 Outcome agreement guidance is setting high expectations on the evidence towards each region s contribution to meeting the recommendations from the Commission for Developing Scotland s Young Workforce; Increased participation by schools, colleges and local authorities in developing the senior phase offer; Colleges are increasing delivery of the Certificate for Work readiness; SFC and SDS working together to define standards for work experience and how to secure employer engagement; RSAs currently commissioning a refresh which will support City Deal areas and align to match college regions; Currently in the process of evaluating the Foundation Apprenticeship early adopter projects; Foundation apprenticeship pathfinder activity has increased over 2015; Ambitions for ESF investment over the next five years; and Both SFC and SDS are working on activity to mainstream equalities work The Chair asked the Committee for any questions. Points raised included: The communication plan will include using DYW Invest in Youth groups, industry bodies and industry website, Our SkillsForce, to engage with employers. SDS website My World of Work has presentations for parents and Education Scotland is engaging with teachers; National Occupational Standards a range of changes across the UK nations, including the establishment of Apprenticeship Trailblazers in England could pose a threat to continuation of National Occupational Standards in their current form; Concerns about the diminishing roles of Sector Skills Councils, in particular in their ability to produce up to date LMI; It would be helpful to have a rating system to assess current status of actions within the Framework, which could include summary of what going well, as well as where further work is required and how the Joint Skills Committee can help. More metrics or figures to highlight progress would be useful; and Deep dive discussion suggested for a future meeting around the shape of the MA programme from Foundation Apprenticeships to Advanced and Professional Apprenticeships, and the role of 6

7 employers in supporting those above Level 3 during times of financial constraint. The Committee noted the progress made against the Framework and raised the above points to be considered by the executives. 6 Scottish Government Employability Consultation (SC/15/13) The Chair invited Gordon McGuinness to introduce the paper and Mike McElhinney (SG) to present the item. The Committee noted: The unique opportunity Scotland has to create a Scottish approach to employability support; Focus on devolved services for disabled people and those at risk of long term unemployment; Scottish Government is consulting service providers, employers and service users for views on the shape of future provision; and The plan to build on experience and expertise in Scotland and existing strengths; In response to the paper, the Committee noted their feedback including: Be aware not to lose what currently works; Need to better measure what is currently being delivered as it is fragmented; Needs to be client centred as needs can vary greatly from person to person; Future programme needs to focus not only on Entry to work but also provide support once In work; Clarify the role of employers and the ask of them, as well as clarifying what they get from it; What examples/good practice areavailable from other countries? What skills sets are needed to support the new structure? training for frontline staff; Importance of clarity around the purpose of any programme so that we can be sure that success measures are aligned to this purpose; and The need to ensure we fully consider the implications and potential consequences of any changes that are implemented. 7

8 7 Review of Energy Skills SIP(SC/15/14) The Chair invited Laura Hewitt (SQA) to introduce this item. The Committee were advised of the work undertaken by SQA Accreditation to analyse the uptake data for accredited qualifications against the Energy sector s skills needs as highlighted in the Energy Skills Investment Plan (SIP). Laura highlighted the challenges faced in producing meaningful data when only using data from limited sources. The paper highlighted that LMI in Scotland primarily exists at organisation level which makes it difficult to share and utilise other organisations data. The Committee recommend that the executive review all evidence available, including from SQA Accreditation, when refreshing the SIPs. 8 Gender Action plan (GAP) update (SC/15/15) The Chair invited John Kemp (SFC) to introduce this paper. The following points were noted: A consultation event was held to share good practice and consider how the gender action plan, currently being developed by the SFC, should be shaped to support colleges, universities and partners in addressing gender imbalances in subject areas; A written consultation is currently underway to learn about the initiatives and approaches currently being adopted by colleges and universities; and Consultants are being commissioned to work with the institutions to assess the approaches being adopted to tackle gender imbalances in certain subjects. This will help determine which approaches work best and why in terms of achieving sustained change to gender imbalance. The Committee advised the executive to consider as widely as possible how other organisations can contribute to the development of the plan in order to ensure people are well informed when making decisions about their courses and future careers. The Committee also noted that a more detailed report would be submitted at the November committee meeting. 8

9 9 National Strategy for Land Based Education (SC/15/16*) The Committee took this item for noting and were advised that any queries/comments should be directed to Aileen Ross at SFC. 10 ICT & Digital Skills feedback and actions (SC/15/17*) The Committee took this item for noting and were advised that any queries/comments should be directed to Sharon Drysdale at SFC. 11 Review of the Additional Taught Post Graduate and Undergraduate Skills Places (SC/15/18*) The Committee took this item for noting and were advised that any queries/comments should be directed to Andre Reibig at SFC. 12 Date of next meeting: Thursday,5 November 2015 at SQA Offices, Glasgow The Chair thanked Stuart Leitch for his contribution to the Committee since 2009 as this was his last meeting.stuart McKenna, CEO of Scottish Training Federation, will be the new STF representative. The Chair thanked all members and observers for their attendance and mentioned a special note of thanks to both the SFC and SDS executivefor their support during his time as Chair. 9