Leicester College has partnered with De Montfort University (DMU), and has been chosen by the Office for Students (OFS), to develop short courses that will help to plug the regional skills gap, as part of a national Government campaign.

The Office for Students today (17 December 2021) announced that DMU will be one of just 22 universities across the UK to pilot the new higher education short courses – a key part of the Government’s lifelong learning programme.

Employers and business champions including Barclays Bank, GE and East Midlands Chamber supported DMU’s bid, as well as further education partners Leicester College and Stephenson College, Coalville.

DMU will work with Leicester College and partners to develop six courses, which will all be taught at Level 4, equivalent to first year undergraduate level.

They are:

• Cyber Security
• Cloud Computing
• Data Analytics
• Data Modelling
• Information Security Management and Governance
• Database Design and Development

Research has found that a lack of flexibility and few financing options is a significant barrier for people wanting to access higher education and technical courses.

The OfS plans to use the trial to see how well short courses work in practice for learners, employees, employers and universities. It will also show whether the demand is there to provide pathways for learners to progress to degree courses.

Findings will inform the delivery of the Government’s Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE). Set to launch in 2025. it promises learners loans equivalent of four years of post-18 education during their lifetime to encourage more flexibility in learning, in particular among adult learners.

Evidence of the skills gap in the region has been published by the Leicester, Leicestershire Economic Partnership. Its economic growth strategy places digital skills at the top of those most-needed by business. In the past 12 months, there have been 7,200 job postings in Leicestershire demanding advanced digital skills.

“We are delighted to have been successful in the OfS challenge competition,” said Dr Carmen Miles, DMU’s lead for Distance Learning.   “Through this, we will have the opportunity to explore and develop innovative approaches to flexible learning alongside our local community, while at the same time supporting the development of the digital skills agenda.”

DMU’s expertise in digital, particularly in cyber security – recently awarded Gold by  the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ – was a key reason why the university was named as one of the 22 pilot projects.

The bid team includes Leicester College, Leicester City Council, the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, the Chartered Institute for Information Security (CIISec), Bauer Media, Barclays Bank, GE Power Conversion, SMB Group (formed of Stephenson College and Brooksby Melton College) and Shelton Machines Limited.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the OfS, said: “I am pleased to announce the successful bidders for these important courses. The courses cover a range of subjects at universities and colleges from all parts of the country. They will help people – including those who might already have significant work experience – learn new skills and retrain for a career change.

“This type of flexibility is important and will help employers fill skills gaps which are essential for their businesses and support future economic growth. At the same time students will be able to benefit from higher education for short periods of time, which will enable them to further their careers, as well as giving them the opportunity to go on and gain a full degree.”