Delivering a joined-up post-16 skills system

Last updated on Tuesday 21 Oct 2025 at 10:20am

The Post-16 Education and Skills white paper presents a unique opportunity to explore how universities and colleges can work together in partnership and within a national system. This will help meet the government’s ambition for two-thirds of young people to achieve a higher-level qualification (Level 4 and above) by age 25, whether through a degree, higher technical qualification, or apprenticeship.

Background

Universities UK (UUK) and the Association of Colleges (AoC) brought together university and college leaders to develop principles-based recommendations for stronger partnership working between colleges and universities in England. This report explores the opportunities that a better coordinated and more coherent system can offer, including delivering on the government’s stated ambition to expand access to higher level education and training.

The report draws on case studies of good practice in college-university partnerships working across England and presents proposals for policymakers and sector leaders to drive forward this important agenda. The scope of this report is England only.

Access the 'Delivering a joined-up post-16 skills system' report [PDF]

Opportunities for stronger partnerships

There are many examples of strong partnership working between colleges and universities across England, all of which highlight the benefits of collaboration. These benefits include:

Making it easier for people to progress through the education and the skills system.
Playing a more active role as a service to employers.
Strengthening the role colleges and universities can collectively play in driving regional growth and meeting skills needs.
Deepening their role within local communities, improving health outcomes, in place-making, or driving the green transition.

However, it's important to recognise there are a number of barriers to collaboration between universities and colleges which impact partnership working, including funding pressures, a competitive environment and regulatory challenges.

Next steps

This new report signals the start of a new era of collaboration, which will unlock further opportunities for people, employers and communities across the country.

The leadership of universities and colleges is pivotal to driving collaboration, alongside the sector stewardship of the AoC and UUK. AOC and UUK are committed, working with their members across the country, to take forward this agenda - reflecting the principles and recommendations established in this report. We will be convening a group of college principals and university vice-chancellors over the coming year.

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