Pagolicy Exchange recently published areportwhich recommends that the government redistribes part of the wealth of our education sector, removing the rich (universities) and giving it to the poor (the higher education sector). The group of experts states that this would help cultivate the high -level technical skills that the country needs so much.

The report, entitled“High, faster, further, more”,It urges the rector to take advantage of this month’s budget review to redirect 532 million pounds from university scholarships to higher education. I am sure that many in higher education will find this controversial suggestion, but many of us in higher education support it fully and the argument to do so is solid.

The report indicates that the universities of the United Kingdom currently have non -restricted reserves of 12.3 billion pounds; Its total income has increased by 26 % since 2009-2010. Meanwhile, higher education budgets have been decimated, with a 24 % drop in the same period. As a result, the sector is in crisis: the National Audit Office predicts that a quarter of universities could be declared bankrupt next year.

However, this occurs just when the benefits of professional training finally begin to be appreciated again, after the government’s commitment to create3 million learning positions. The higher education sector offers most of the current learning programs (almost 300,000 studied last year) and is fighting the serious shortage of competencies forming half of the country’s apprentices under construction, manufacturing and engineering.

And higher education centers offer more than only learning. They provide high quality professional and technical education to millions of people in the United Kingdom every year. Only in himCourse 2014-15, more than 800,000 young people between 16 and 18 and 2 million adults were formed in higher education centers.

This does not mean that higher education is not exempt from problems. For too long, the sector has had to prioritize the creation and delivery of courses that attract financing, instead of spending time to thoroughly understand the competency needs of local and national employers. However, a financial impulse would allow a renewed approach in the delivery of professional training that provides people with the appropriate competencies for employment.

The situation has leaned too much in favor of higher education, although the sector does not fulfill its promises to those who attend. For years we have told young people who need a title to get a well -paid job, but statistics simply do not confirm it.

The average student currently graduated witha debt of £ 44,000, but astudyRecent of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development revealed that almost six out of ten (59%) have jobs that do not require a university degree. He concludes that many young people would be better with professional training.

This does not mean that higher education is not adequate for some, but we need a balanced system that offers young people true options. We need both halves of the higher education system to be solid.

Redirecting universities funds to strengthen higher education would mean that adolescents would have a true option between academic studies and professional training that prepares them for work. And it could be a lifeguard for the adult education sector, affected by austerity, which is vital to maintain an agile workforce at an era where there is no work for a lifetime. Moreover, higher education centers are already vital for higher education infrastructure; About 27 % of all full-time advanced students in 2014-15 studied in these institutions.

Higher education is the forgotten median sister of British education, but it shouldn’t be. It is of general interest to train people to cover the growing lack of competencies. Guarantee the financial sustainability of the sector must be the starting point.

Policy Exchange is right to affirm that technical excellence in the United Kingdom will only be achieved through greater equality in education. With adequate resources, universities may innovate and improve with the same effectiveness as universities. An impulse of 532 million pounds for the sector would be absolutely invaluable to ensure that our efforts are directed to the appropriate areas and meet the needs of the economy and the country.

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