Introduction

As a fully paid up member of NCVO, I ought to start by saying that the connection between the voluntary sector and higher education sector is not made as often as I should like. Both make an immensely valuable contribution to our economy and society.

What I propose to do today is to draw out some of the connections between them and the benefits that they bring to each other.

The impact of the voluntary sector in society

The importance of the voluntary sector to society can be seen through the impact it has in so many areas of our lives.

Service delivery

The central mission of so many voluntary organisations is to "do good works" by providing services to the community. We see an increasing number of local services left to the voluntary sector these days, and it's not just because it saves money-although governments clearly believe it does! It's because voluntary organisations can touch parts of society that governments, national or local, find it difficult to reach.

Contributing to public policy dialogue

Voluntary organisations also play a major role in public policy debates - they're committed to educating people and changing public policy and behaviour.

We know Government, political parties and decision-makers in other institutions, both public and private, all listen to the voice of voluntary organisations. Why is this?

Again, because voluntary organisations reach deep into the heart of society. Political parties and government are especially keen to listen to these voices as they can often act as early warning systems with respect to emerging policy issues.

Citizen engagement

The voluntary sector also helps to create and strengthen citizenship through engaging citizens in the development of their communities.

All these voluntary sector themes - service delivery, public policy dialogue and citizen engagement - connect with higher education. They are also all important in attracting staff.

But before going on to discuss that, just a word about the size and shape of the voluntary sector.

Profile of staff in the voluntary sector

Although less than one quarter of all voluntary organisations have paid employees, it is useful to note their profile in order to establish what types of links between the voluntary and higher education sectors might deliver the best results.

Diverse workforce and small employers

While voluntary sector staff make up about 2% of the UK workforce, about half of these (around 200,000) work part time, and around 44,000 (10%) are "casual" workers. A fifth of all workers in the voluntary sector (almost 100,000) are employed by the relatively small number of organisations with incomes of over £10 million. Three quarters of all employees are female.

This mix makes the task of recruiting and training staff, and the role of higher education in this process, very interesting.

The challenge is to identify the needs of this largely part-time and casual workforce employed predominately in small organisations. But we must remember that people working in the voluntary sector are fulfilling many of the roles performed by those in paid employment and face many of the same challenges like managing budgets, staff and projects, raising funds and promoting campaigns.

Graduates

Interestingly, the voluntary sector has a very healthy proportion of graduates amongst its staff. Around 25% of all employees are educated to at least degree level, compared to 23% in the public sector and only 10% in the private sector.

Direct links with higher education

First let's look at the direct links between the voluntary sector and higher education. There are a lot of them!

Higher education institutions provide a considerable range of courses geared towards the voluntary sector. These range from postgraduate, first degree and sub-degree courses specialising in specific or general subjects relating to the voluntary sector, through to liberal arts and adult education which may take the form of short courses and evening classes.

Sub-degree academic courses

Leeds University, for example, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Community Training Group, offers a Certificate in Higher Education to those substantially involved in community work. Other sub-degree provision exists at University of Wales College Newport, who offers a Certificate in Higher Education in Voluntary Sector and Community Work, as part of the first stage in their proposed BA (Hons) Community Studies degree. Sheffield Hallam University offers a 20-credit module in Management in the Voluntary Sector.

Such sub-degree provision aims to strengthen the knowledge of existing practitioners. It looks at both the theory and practice of community and voluntary work. Participants can expect to study the uses and impact of such things as information communications technology (ICT), basic management theory and organisational skills. These courses often do not require formal academic qualifications; rather applicants must demonstrate involvement in and an understanding of community and voluntary work.

First degree academic courses

Leeds University currently offers a BSc and BA honours degrees through work-based learning and is open to learners in employment and those engaged in voluntary work.

Adult education

Traditional liberal arts and adult education provides short courses designed specifically to plug skills gaps or update knowledge. These are invaluable to those working in the voluntary sector who may wish to learn more about budgeting or computing or brush up their language skills.

Postgraduate study

Higher education institutions offer a range of higher degrees that are specific to or applicable to the work of the voluntary sector. Let me give you some examples:

The Public Services MBA programme at the Nottingham University Business School allows students to concentrate on areas of the public sector of greatest relevance to their current or potential careers.

The City University Business School in London, offers a MSc in Voluntary Sector Management which is designed for existing managers in the sector to be of mutual benefit to themselves and their organisations.

The London School of Economics also offers an MSc in Voluntary Sector Organisation, which aims to give managers an advanced study of the theory and practice of voluntary sector policy and administration, as well as in more general issues surrounding social policy and public administration.

Research and consultancy resources

A number of higher education institutions have specialist centres that provide applied research and national and international consultancy services in the voluntary sector.

Glasgow Caledonian University's Business School has specialist voluntary sector research and management arms. Together these undertake research and provide consultancy, training and management education for the sector.

The Centre for Local Democracy at the University of the West of England has a specialist project examining the use of new technologies in the voluntary sector. Researchers have been investigating the potential of information and communication technologies such as multi-media and internet technologies for the voluntary sector.

The role of students

Students themselves, of course, make a major contribution to the work of voluntary organisations.

Volunteering in the community

Most students' unions will have both RAG and Student Community Action (SCA) organisations, raising funds and providing willing volunteers for local community groups-helping with domestic and decorating chores for the elderly and housebound, or leading playgroups and outings for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Gap years

Gap years can help address the pressing need to improve the skills of graduates entering the workplace.

Universities generally like to take students who have done a gap year because they are more mature and a step ahead of the rest.

Employment destinations of graduates

In 1998/99 the first destination of 1,646 first-degree graduates was unpaid work (including voluntary work) out of 176,205 of known destination.

Also in 1998/99 7,900 first-degree graduates entered employment with an employer whose Standard Industrial Classification was "Other community, social & personal service activities".

What all this means is that a large number of students experience the voluntary sector at some point whilst studying, and an increasing number of graduates are thinking about the voluntary sector in career terms.

The role of staff

Higher education staff offer much to the voluntary sector. Experience tells us that professional HE staff are likely to volunteer themselves for school governing bodies, play an active role in local government, become JPs, and take on teaching roles outside of their institutions that are not paid, such as in local community centres.

Academic staff too have often unique knowledge and expertise and are called upon usually in a voluntary capacity to serve on high level inquiries and committees. They advise on some of the major issues of the day that affect all our lives - be it health, the environment, transport or defence. Through this they are providing a highly important service to our country - something that often goes unnoticed. Many of them are willing to work with voluntary organisations dealing with these issues.

Lifelong learning and social inclusion

The voluntary sector, in partnership with higher education, has a major role to play in making real the idea of lifelong learning - that is, the ways in which we can ensure that people from all backgrounds and educational history can benefit from improving their skills and knowledge at various points throughout their lives.

One of the best ways of addressing the problems of social exclusion is by improving the level of skills among many people - and that can often be done through the voluntary sector. There, people who are alienated from formal education and training, and much else besides, can be reached with learning opportunities which help improve their lives.

Working with the Government's Excellence Challenge to improve the educational opportunities of young people, especially those from the inner cities, universities are key to giving many disadvantaged people the skills they need. The Community University of the Valleys pioneered by Swansea University and the Southampton New College are two excellent examples of this style of outreach and access to education initiative.

So I believe there are many opportunities for the voluntary and higher education sectors to work together to unlock the great potential that exists in community based learning to tackle social exclusion and improve the life chances of many people through skills development. At the same time, I hope I have shown that universities are responding to the needs of voluntary organisations themselves to upgrade the skills of staff and to provide learning opportunities which are one of the most effective ways of attracting new staff.