NSCG Backs Report Calling for Greater Collaboration Between Colleges and Universities
5th March 2026
NSCG today welcomed a new report urging a “step change” in collaboration between further education (FE) colleges and universities to tackle the UK’s skills shortages and expand access to higher-level learning.
The report, Partners in Progress: Colleges at the Forefront of Technical Education, has been published by the Lifelong Education Institute (LEI) in partnership with the Mixed Economy Group of Colleges (MEG), which includes NSCG.
It argues that breaking down long standing barriers between FE and HE is essential to boosting economic growth, widening participation, and meeting urgent skills needs in key sectors.
The paper highlights that FE colleges already deliver around 10% of all Level 4–6 provision in England and play a vital role in widening participation for adults, working learners, and those from disadvantaged communities. It reinforces the critical contribution of FE colleges nationwide, which collectively teach:
• 80% of Higher National Certificates
• 61% of Foundation Degrees
• 53% of Higher National Diplomas
Despite this, many colleges continue to face a power imbalance within traditional HE partnership models, alongside limited recognition for their contribution to higher technical education.
NSCG, which offers a range of higher education programmes including Higher Nationals, Foundation Degrees, HTQs, higher level apprenticeships, has backed the call for closer and more equal FE-HE collaboration. The college also supports the report’s emphasis on fully recognising the role colleges play in designing and delivering the higher-level skills that regional economies depend on.
Georgina Barnard, Vice Principal - Institute of Technology and Higher Education at NSCG, said: “At NSCG, we are proud to be a successful college provider of higher education, delivering higher level programmes across both our campuses and through the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology in Stafford. This report rightly highlights the pivotal role that colleges like ours play in widening participation and delivering the advanced skills that employers urgently need. Through strong FE–HE collaboration, we can expand opportunities, co-design programmes with industry and ensure learners progress seamlessly into higher-level study. We fully support the report’s call for greater parity and recognition of the essential contribution colleges make in driving economic growth, raising aspirations, and meeting the higher level skills needs of our region.”
Jon Ridley, Chair of the Mixed Economy Group (MEG) and Principal of Newcastle College (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), said: "For too long colleges have been seen as a route into higher education and not as providers of high quality higher technical education themselves. Across the country, thousands of young people and adults are undertaking first class higher education training and studies at their local college. If we are serious about addressing the government's targets for participation in higher technical skills, as outlined in the recent Skills White Paper, then a re-examination of the traditional Further and Higher education relationship is required and the critical role of colleges in providing the skills needed to boost our economy, locally and nationally, needs to be fully recognised and rewarded"
The report sets out a series of recommendations to strengthen partnership working across the tertiary education system, including:
• Financial incentives for co-designed and co-delivered FE-HE courses designed and co delivered FE HE courses
• Streamlined awarding powers to help colleges expand Higher Technical Qualifications
• Mandatory joint governance, ensuring FE and HE expertise is represented on each other’s boards
• Stronger local planning, requiring universities to actively engage in Local Skills Improvement Plans