At our recent Annual Conference, we were delighted to be joined by Sarah Evans of Cwmpas, who, on behalf of ColegauCymru, led a research project to establish the social value of further education in Wales. Having facilitated a workshop on social value at the Conference, here she shares her insights on the future role that social value can play within the sector and how the next 10 years could look for FE.
I wanted to write this blog to reflect on the joint workshop that ColegauCymru and Cwmpas facilitated at the recent ColegauCymru Annual Conference. The focus of the Conference this year was Education 5.0: The Future of Further Education in Wales; and the purpose of our workshop was to discuss the future role that social value can play within the sector, particularly in terms of demonstrating the holistic impact of FE colleges within Wales.
My main takeaway from the workshop was that social value is gaining traction within the sector, as it can provide an encompassing framework to demonstrate holistic impact, particularly in challenging financial times.
This broader impact was spoken about by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Vikki Howells MS, and Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Derek Walker, both of whom highlighted examples from the “Demonstrating the Social Value of Further Education Colleges in Wales” report that was written by Cwmpas and CLES earlier this year, to emphasise the value and impact of the sector. 
What was also reiterated in our workshop discussions was that social value is within the DNA of the FE sector in Wales. The debate also reaffirmed our research findings relating to the core components of social value within the further education sector, namely:
- The adoption of a ‘People Focused’ approach with both learners and staff at the core;
- Collaboration with local businesses and Public Sector Bodies;
- Working closely with local communities; and
- The role of FE colleges as anchor organisations driving their local economies.
Workshop participants talked about the role of data in demonstrating social value and there was a consensus that collecting data, at both a local and a national level, is key to demonstrating the numerical element of social value, however, data alone doesn’t tell the full story. Participants emphasised the importance of case studies, which focus on individuals and tell life changing stories; which would not be told, via metrics alone.
It was interesting hearing sector leaders discussing how funders currently measure outcomes and impacts, and how there seems to be a disconnect between the data collection that’s required for sector funding and the data that would be required to demonstrate the social value that the sector is creating.
As Medr becomes estab
lished, participants recognised the importance of showcasing the holistic value that the FE sector is creating both locally and nationally. I have to say though that I am disappointed not to see social value explicitly mentioned within Medr’s draft strategic plan: hopefully this will change when the Commission reviews the recent consultation responses.
Looking to the future it was recognised that there is still work to do. I think the recommendations from our earlier report are still relevant and offer a roadmap for development. The recommendations focussed on the following main areas:
The advocacy role of for ColegauCymru in bringing together coherent social value messaging for the Sector. This role should include aligning social value with key legislative and policy drivers, as well as the strategic objectives of Medr. At the workshop we also spoke about the role of ColegauCymru in advocating for the sector at a Ministerial level, recognising that activities and impacts of the FE sector sit across multiple Ministerial portfolios.
There is also a role for ColegauCymru to develop the understanding and awareness of social value at a member level. Activities could include awareness raising/social value training and knowledge sharing via social value ‘community of practice’ network.
To move forward though I think that ColegauCymru can lead the development of a formalised approach to reporting social value. This could include:
- Identifying key social value outcomes and indicators, that can be adapted/developed locally to represent individual college activities
- Tracking progress
- Supporting the continued development of qualitative case studies
- Annual social value reports at individual college and national level
I have really enjoyed working with the ColegauCymru team over the past year and hopefully both Cwmpas and CLES can be involved in further developing the understanding and reporting of social value within the Further Education sector in Wales: as the sector continues to grow its impact and shape our local and national economies.
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Further Information
ColegauCymru Research Report
Demonstrating the Social Value of Further Education Colleges in Wales
April 2024
