Committee examines adult skills and lifelong learning

• Watch Parliament TV: Adult skills and lifelong learning
• Inquiry: Adult skills and lifelong learning
• Education Committee

Witnesses

Tuesday 22nd September, virtual meeting

At 10am

Panel 1

• Matthew Percival, Director of People and Skills Policy, Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
• Iain Murray, Senior Policy Officer, Trades Union Congress (TUC)
• Joe Fitzsimons, Head of Education and Skills Policy, Institute of Directors (IoD)

Panel 2

• Professor Josie Fraser, Deputy Vice Chancellor, The Open University
• Dr Sue Pember OBE, Director of Policy and External Relations, HOLEX
• Simon Parkinson, Chief Executive of the Workers’ Education Association (WEA)

The session will give Members the opportunity to address a range of topics including priorities for the National Skills Fund and National Retraining Scheme.

The first panel will focus on upskilling and retraining in the context of productivity, and learning and skills in the workplace.

The second panel will examine areas including adult community learning and part-time higher education.

The inquiry is exploring key themes such as participation in ASALL, the balance and range of different forms of provision, and the role of employer-led training. The inquiry is also examining the role played by local authorities and combined authority areas in providing adult education.

With an estimated 10-35% of UK jobs at “high risk” of replacement in the next 20 years, according to 2018 research commissioned by the DfE, adult learning and retraining will be fundamental to Britain ensuring it has the skills to match a changing economy.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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