Threatened Closure of Sussex University Chemistry Department

Author:Dai Hudd, Created 21/03/2006 13:39:24

DRAFT Cogent response to Sussex University Chemistry Department Closure threat.

Cogent Sector Skills Council was disappointed to learn of the threatened closure of the Chemistry Department at Sussex University.

This disturbing news comes at a critical time for industries in our sector which face ageing workforces, falling intakes of graduates and technicians  and the need for innovation and higher skill levels to increase productivity.

Cogent has just completed detailed employee-based UK-wide  research into the skills needs of the chemical, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymers industry, which clearly shows that levels of recruitment from chemistry  courses needs to increase simply to match the replacement demand profile predicted from the existing workforce, let alone the Government's targets of R&D activity in the UK economy.

Most employers tell us that they  recognise the need to make careers in their industries more attractive to young people and to  expand engagement programmes with schools  and children from  early years right through to the university milk rounds.

Another emerging theme from the research is the need to dramatically improve management and leadership skills across the sector, with the graduates of today developing into the managers and leaders of tomorrow.

With a diminishing number of hard science course available to young people, the UK is not only reducing their career development options we are also undermining the future competitiveness of strategically significant industries that contribute £46bn GVA to the UK economy each year.
 
By taking a short term view on the popularity and viability of University courses we will suffer the long-term consequences of failing to match the  accelerating competition from countries that support their industries with increasing numbers of science graduates.

Cogent's Skills Needs assessments for the chemical, nuclear, petroleum and  polymer  industries can be seen at www.cogent-ssc.com.  Our Sector Skills Agreement with the Chemicals Industry will be launched in Westminster on July 4th this year.

Notes for editors:
Cogent Sector Skills Council represents the chemical, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries.  These industries are of both economic and strategic importance to the UK, contributing £46.69bn to its Gross Added Value.  However, they face significant changes in the demands placed on their workforce from global competition, increasing public expectations for cleaner and safer products, new technology, workforce demographics and sustainable development requirements.

Cogent is aimed at improving performance and driving up productivity across this critical sector footprint through better, more focused training and the structured bridging of skills gaps.  Industries within our sector depend on a range of skills relating to science, technology and engineering.  And having the right people with the right skills in place is critical to productivity, competency, innovation and sustainability right across the sector.

Sector Skills Agreements are being produced for every sector which is supported by a Sector Skills Council including Cogent, which covers chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymers. The aim of these agreements is to secure for each sector the range and level of skills necessary to achieve productivity at internationally competitive levels. 

In partnership with employers, the Government and others, Cogent will use the Sector Skills Agreement as a framework for delivery of the skilled workforce which employers in the sector want.  The Agreement will:

· lead to better planned and more integrated delivery of skills training;
· help to produce credible, cost effective, quality assured and better-tailored training provision;
· help to target public funding more efficiently;
· encourage employers to invest more in developing their workforce.

Cogent will shortly be publishing Executive Summaries of the first stage of the Sector Skills Agreement process, the Skill Needs Assessment, including one for the chemical Industry. It is abstracted from a much larger report which covers all five industries covered by Cogent.

The Sector Skills Agreement process takes place in five phases. Cogent is asking employers to get involved and consulting with them at every stage.

· The Skills Needs Assessment  which provides an overview of the Cogent sector in relation to workforce size and shape and current skills needs both now and in the future.

· The next phase is the Assessment of Current Provision which will report on both the quantity of training and qualifications provision and the quality and relevance to employers. 

· The third phase in this process is the Gap Analysis. This will use the findings from the first two reports, as well as a study of future scenarios as agreed with employers, to identify gaps in current training and qualifications provision. During this stage Cogent will be consulting with employers through its website and by telephone survey, and through its Employer Advisory Councils to develop a series of possible skills solutions as the basis for an action plan.

· Stage Four is the Assessment of the Scope for Collaborative Action, which will build upon the solutions suggested within the Gap Analysis.  Cogent will be joining with employers and others with an interest in the industry to look at how these deficiencies can be tackled and what form action might take. This process will take the form of workshops carried out across Cogent industries during May.

· The final phase, Developing An Action Plan completes the Sector Skills Agreement process, and results in the development of a resourced plan. This will include the contribution of each partner (private and public), quantified outputs, estimated impacts on productivity and competitiveness and an evaluation mechanism.

Cogent intends that the resulting Sector Skills Agreement should fundamentally alter the way skills are demanded, delivered and developed throughout the UK, and believes that employer contribution is vital to success.

Cogent welcomes feedback and comment on this Executive Summary. Louise Jackson is the contact for feedback (which can also be provided through the website: www.cogent-ssc.com), or to book a place at one of Cogent's workshops: louise.jackson@cogent-ssc.com.