Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Gateways to the Professions

Background

The Government’s Gateways to the Professions initiative arose from the Langland’s report in 2005, which examined the potential impact of variable fees in terms of gateways into the professions. This initiative supports measures to improve access to the professions. The 4 key areas arising from the report were: recruitment and retention to the professions; student finance/debt; widening participation; and collaborative working. Sir Alan Langlands’ report on the Gateways to the Professions and the Government’s response are available to download below.

Collaborative Working

A Collaborative Forum, chaired by Bill Rammell MP – the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, has been established and meets bi-annually to support this work and to draw on the expertise and knowledge that is already out there. Membership is drawn from a wide range of organisations, providing an expert group on recruitment and retention. The forum has a key role in making sure that our policies are developed on the basis of clear evidence of what is happening on the group. The Forum's membership and terms of reference are available to view below. Implementation of the recommendations in the Langlands report is being managed by this Forum in conjunction with an Inter-departmental group (view below) to help identify action required and to monitor and evaluate progress. An Equality & Diversity Sub group (view below) meet to drive forward the equality agenda.

Gateways to the Professions supports the Leitch Implementation Plan by encouraging collaborative working amongst Government, HEIs, Professional Bodies and SSCs by meeting the requirement as laid out in para 3.60 of World Class Skills Where appropriate, professional bodies will need to collaborate with SSCs and HE institutions to influence higher level provision. Working with the Higher Education Regulation Review Group and the Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum we will look to strengthen the partnerships between these stakeholders, including holding an event.

DIUS commissioned Oakleigh Consulting Ltd to map roles and responsibilities of professional bodies, sector skills councils and higher education institutions. A copy of the report can be viewed below.

Development Fund

In February 2008 DIUS hosted an event for 200 delegates to strengthen partnerships between professional bodies, SSC and HEIs. This event was also used to share learning form the Gateways projects that were supported through the development Fund. Summaries of Round 1 and Round 2 projects can be viewed below.

In order to continue the good work started at the conference we have set up another sub group of the Forum called the Strengthening Partnerships Advisory Group. This group will ensure the continued collaboration between professional bodies, SSCs and HEIs. Terms of reference will be available to view shortly.

Gateways to the Professions

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