FE in Focus: Priorities and Opportunities for Technology in Skills

Further education is the subject of a scale of investment and policy attention that has not been seen in years. FE in Focus looks at the policy, the funding and the technical detail behind that ambition, and invites the technology sector to engage with further education as closely as further education is now being asked to engage with it. The afternoon brings together colleges, sector bodies, government and technology suppliers. It covers where the opportunity lies for the sector, hears directly from colleges leading on digital and AI adoption, and asks how further education can help lead the way AI is used in skills. 

Why now 

£307 million in capital funding is going into colleges this year, as part of a wider £1.7 billion commitment to the FE estate. Apprenticeship training is now fully funded for all eligible under-25s. Mayors are gaining control over 16 to 19 technical education for the first time, with reforms giving students early access to technical routes from as young as 14. Colleges have been modernising for some time, and the sector's digital insight programmes are a strong example. At the same time, artificial intelligence is changing education and work alike, and colleges have a significant hand in shaping how both evolve as active co-creators in the development of AI. 

Who should attend 

College leaders and digital, data and technology leads in further education, sector and skills bodies, edtech and AI suppliers, and government and policy colleagues with an interest in further education and skills. 

What we hope to cover 

• Where the opportunity lies for further education given current investment and policy attention. 

• What colleges leading on digital and AI adoption have done, what it took to get there and what it has meant for staff and students. 

• How further education can help lead the way AI is used in skills, rather than adopt what others design. 

• How the technology sector can engage with further education. 

Agenda 

Draft agenda. Speakers and timings are to be confirmed. 

Panel 1: The Opportunity in Further Education: A Sector Ready to Lead 

With investment and policy attention on further education at a scale not seen in years, this panel sets out where the sector's opportunity lies and what it will take for further education to lead from the front rather than catch up from behind. 

Panel 2: Meet the Colleges Leading the Way on Digital and AI Adoption in Further Education 

This panel puts the spotlight on the colleges themselves, hearing directly from the leaders behind some of further education's boldest digital and AI work, what it took to get there, what it has meant for staff and students, and what the rest of the sector can take from it. 

Panel 3: Why Further Education Is Positioned to Lead the Way AI Gets Used in Skills, Rather Than Simply Adopt What Others Design 

Further education has the employer relationships and agility to help lead how AI gets used in skills. This panel asks what needs to change for the sector to take its place as a partner in that work, alongside government and the technology sector. 

Drinks reception 

Stay on for the drinks reception from 17:00 to 19:00, an informal close to the day where the conversations from the panels and the keynote can carry on with the speakers and the rest of the room. 

Get involved 

If you would like to find out more about techUK's work with further education, or have an idea for a future session, please get in touch with Austin Earl. Contact details are below.