Read the full transcript of a speech by Susan Lapworth, Chief Executive of the OfS, who spoke at the annual Association of Colleges Higher Education conference on Thursday 21 March.
Thank you Arti the introduction. And thank you to the Association of Colleges for inviting me to speak with you today.
I’m delighted to be talking about the OfS’s priorities for the year ahead and beyond. And to endorse the important role colleges play in our higher education system.
As people at the frontline of delivering higher education in colleges, you know how important colleges are.
- They provide academic, technical, and professional education and training for around 1.6 million peopleExternal link (Opens in a new tab or window) in England each year.
- They employ over 100,000 full-time equivalent staffExternal link (Opens in a new tab or window) in England, often making them a local area’s largest employer.
- They offer a broad range of qualifications and courses with extensive choices for students: from engineering and hospitality, to IT and construction. Plugging skills gaps across the UK in key growth areas such as in AI.
- And colleges help people of all ages and backgrounds to make the most of their talents and ambitions. So being rooted in local communities means you are essential in driving social mobility and providing the skills to boost local and regional economies.
- This remarkable contribution to educational and the economic life of your communities is rooted in colleges’ strong focus on the needs of students. Not just in educational terms, but also their need for high quality support and personalised guidance to help them make the most of their college education.
