The Centre for Education and Youth is delighted to publish a new report on Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) with Policy Connect.
Skills are a central part of current educational and industrial policy. However, analysts have long identified numerous deficiencies in the UK’s technical education offer, leaving many adults and young people lacking the skills they need to contribute to and thrive in an increasingly automated and green economy.
Our report, “Higher Technical Qualification: How to liberate employers and skill workers for the future”, finds that HTQs can play a critical role in improving the UK’s skills pipeline. HTQs are technical qualifications that provide an alternative to degrees or apprenticeships. They are in principle aimed at learners who want a more practical, employer-led approach to acquiring vocational skills. However, HTQs also involve taught elements that are delivered in an institution or school setting and consequently have more of a “classroom” component than most apprenticeships.
Despite their promise, HTQs have struggled with uptake from students and engagement from employers. Our report drew on three roundtables, 13 interviews and written submissions from experts from industry, technical education and research to understand barriers to the growth and success of HTQs.
