Consultation Response
Welsh Government
Deadline for submission: 11th March 2024
The FE sector in Wales is broadly supportive of the bold ambitions outlined in the Welsh Government's vision for a Just Transition. However, it must be borne in mind, that the individuals who are likely to be served by the sector in 2050 are varied, with some individuals who are currently looking to enter the workforce, alongside those who are already in the workforce, needing to skill, upskill or reskill many times by 2050.
The realisation of such a bold Vision by 2050 - especially the ambition for “existing and future generations [. . .] equipped with the right skills for good jobs . . .” - will be highly dependent on a vibrant and robust sector today – one which must be appropriately resourced to meet the scale of the challenge ahead.
It is welcome that recognition is given to the need to align education with industry. Given the strong existing relationships between employers and colleges, this is a key role that the FE sector can play in the ‘Team Wales’ approach i.e. bringing industry to the table. ColegauCymru continues to advocate for a vocational education and training strategy to bring closer alignment with Wales’ economic and industrial priorities.
The FE sector in Wales welcomes the fact, that one of the first guiding principles is to “invest in education and skills to support transition to Net Zero”. It is recognised that the guiding principles underpin the achievement of a Just Transition in the future, and it is important to emphasise that to deliver the education and skills required for the just transition, the sector must be suitably resourced.
Further Information
Please contact ColegauCymru Policy Officer, Amy Evans, with any questions.
Amy.Evans@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
