Unlocking the full potential of technology to get adults learning

Ufi CEO Rebecca Garrod-Waters reflects on the upcoming party conferences and the opportunity to transform the UK skills system.

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Kickstarting economic growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity are two of the core missions driving the new Labour Government. For the first time Ufi will be at this year’s Labour and Conservative Party Conferences, making the argument for a flexible skills system, that is responsive to learner and employer need through the development of better, tech-enabled, qualifications and assessment.

At Ufi we have over a decade of experience supporting more than 250 organisations to develop and adopt technology to help get adults gain skills for work. In the last year, we have established the Digital Badging Commission with our partners the RSA to broaden the understanding, development and adoption of digital badges by accrediting organisations and employers. We’ve supported the sixth round of NCFE’s Innovation in Assessment Fund, partnered with iDEA in the development of their digital badging platform and have continued our work with Learning and Work Institute to understand and address barriers to adult participation in learning. Together we are interested in exploring how systemic reform can unlock higher quality training and employment paths, a better more flexible approach to risk for providers, and consider how technology can improve the critical transition points for learners.

At the Party Conferences we have partnered with the Future Skills Coalition, a cross-sector group of organisations (led by the Association of Colleges, AELP and City and Guilds) making the case for the UK’s skills system. We know that reform of the UK's assessment and qualifications system is critical to unlocking the skills, productivity and economic growth needed for a thriving economy where everyone can succeed.

At the Future Skills Coalition pavilion, located in the conference Skills Hubs, we have an opportunity to strengthen our network, share learning with like-minded organisations, and inspire strategic action with key policy makers.

As part of our activity on the Skills Hub will are convening a panel discussion exploring what policy, regulatory and funding decisions are necessary to ensure technology can play a role in getting everyone the skills they need through better qualifications and assessment. I’m very pleased to be joined on the panel for the Labour Conference by Ufi’s Chair, Dominic Gill, David Gallagher of NCFE, Stephen Evans of the Learning and Work Institute, Nichola Hay of AELP, and Sam Carling MP – newly elected Member of Parliament for North-West Cambridgeshire.

Our panel: 10:15am, Tuesday 24th September, Labour Party Conference Skills Hub 

A+ Growth: Role of technology enabled assessment and qualifications in improving UK skills, productivity and growth

In their manifesto, Labour commits to “reform assessment and create higher-quality training and employment paths”. Putting “employers at the heart” of a system connected by Skills England and in part funded by a Skills and Growthy Levy that will ensure “qualifications offer value for money” while allowing students to more effectively “move between institutions”. We look forward to sharing our practical insights into the role technology can play and continuing to be part of the movement transforming the UK skills system.

Explore the full Future Skills Coalition programmes for both party conferences.