Education exports should be a big hit on the UK’s Saudi trade mission
For years, England looked to Germany, Switzerland, and Scandinavia for guidance on building strong technical education and skills systems. Now, other countries are looking to us.
When I was a minister, I met with a host of overseas delegations asking about our reforms: The apprenticeship revolution, University Technical Colleges (“UTCs”), T Levels, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, and more.
Why? The needs of young people and industry everywhere are changing in today’s rapidly evolving world, and governments and providers must rethink their approach to education. Our reforms are giving England ‘first mover advantage’.
Exporting education model to be discussed on Saudi trade mission
There have been seismic changes in the global jobs market, as the World Economic Forum highlighted earlier this year, driven by technological developments, the green transition, as well as economic and demographic shifts.
The time is right to support other countries in providing young people with a much-needed engaging and career-focused education.
Following work conducted by Baker Dearing in the United Arab Emirates, Baker Dearing International has been established to work with governments and education organisations to implement solutions based on the UTC model to meet the technical education needs of other countries. We look forward to sharing this insight in April as part of the UK’s Great Futures UK education mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
UTCs are secondary schools that teach specialist technical curricula matched to the needs of local employers, who help design and deliver education provision. The UTC model’s strong focus on work readiness ensures outstanding destinations for UTC leavers. Last year, one in five started an apprenticeship at the age of 18, with two-thirds commencing at the coveted higher and degree levels. Close to a half entered higher education, with the majority choosing engineering, science and technology subjects.
With youth unemployment surging around England, UTCs are bucking the trend: Just five per cent joined the ranks of the unemployed, compared with over thirteen per cent nationally.
Why the world needs UK education exports
Governments around the world face many of the same challenges. Digital literacy – to meet the needs of fields such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cybersecurity – is projected to grow in importance more rapidly than any other skill in the next five years. However, non-technical skills such as creative thinking, resilience, and adaptability are also rising in importance.
Meanwhile, youth unemployment remains highest in upper- and middle-income countries, where 16 per cent of young people are out of work, according to an International Labour Organisation estimate.
All education systems must adapt to turn the tide on this worrying trend. We also need to prepare students for jobs that have not yet been created and to use technologies that have not yet been invented. The technical education system in England – rigorous and employer led – can provide the quality but also the flexibility for the needs of different countries.
With the UTC model, for example, the core principles of employer and university engagement, high-quality technical training, strong academic standards, real workplace experience, and professional skills development can work anywhere.
While UTCs are standalone institutions, Baker Dearing has developed the UTC Sleeve model which takes these vital UTC ingredients into existing schools to create a career-focused pathway. It is something we will certainly be discussing in Saudi Arabia.
Moreover, different economies can focus on their priority sectors. A country building its digital economy might emphasise computing and cyber skills. Another developing manufacturing might focus on engineering and robotics. The model works for any technical sector.
We know what makes technical education successful
Baker Dearing International was established because of the success today of the UTC model in England. We have learned what makes technical education successful.
It is one of a number of promising products and solutions that could help the UK become top of the class in education exports. All the while helping governments build strong economies and young people build a bright future.
The Rt Hon Robert Halfon is the former MP for Harlow and former Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education. He is now the Chair of Baker Dearing International.
