Jeremy Miles: ...to us in the most innovative way possible. That’s why the support provided through the PLA, which she acknowledged in her question, and the support provided in terms of part-time and full-time education, and higher education, is so very important. In terms of the funding available to FE colleges, the budget allocated last year includes the biggest increase in the budget that there has...
Jeremy Miles: ...constructive way in which she has engaged with the statement, and I think it's an indication of the support across the Chamber for initiatives in relation to making sure that adults can return to education at any point in life. She identifies some important potential barriers to people making the decision to do that. I think, in a way, the most profound barrier is that most people don't...
Jeremy Miles: ...year, I provided almost £6 million to improve digital capacity and to address the challenges of net zero in adult learning providers and colleges. And thanks to our progressive and unique higher education student finance reforms, we’ve seen adult part-time higher education participation rise, and in particular a significant increase in students—including many from disadvantaged...
Jeremy Miles: ...and to reverse some recent trends. Adult participation in learning has fallen across the UK over the previous decade. Research shows that those who are most likely to benefit from re-engaging in education as adults, particularly those who are most disadvantaged and least well qualified, are also the least likely to do so. But, Dirprwy Lywydd, through innovative policy making we have...
Jeremy Miles: ...of a new legal duty to fund the area, and the development of our pilot citizens curriculum programme. I have said before in this Chamber that I want Wales to be a nation of second chances in education, a place where everyone can reach their potential, a nation where it is never too late to learn, where people have the confidence, motivation and means to re-enter education to gain the...
Jeremy Miles: ...in Wales was associated with university activity. Over 21,700 jobs were provided by Welsh universities, with a further 19,600 jobs created in other industries through the knock-on effect of higher education. I am proud that universities in Wales are paying the living wage, and I would encourage more in terms of local and regional procurement. This year's growth in the number of...
Jeremy Miles: ..., we will ensure the best value from research funding from HEFCW to support innovation and research. In future, university funding will come under the new commission on tertiary and higher education. In response to James Evans, the commission will be expected to play a key role in the research system, working closely with the UK research councils. It will continue with the work of the...
Jeremy Miles: ...true of young people, as we've just heard in Jenny Rathbone's contribution. Online sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of behaviours, and I recognise the challenge this presents to schools. I visited a school myself recently that has been working with boys, in that case, on understanding the impact of sharing images online, for example, and another school where girls are raising...
Jeremy Miles: Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I would like to thank, if I may, members of the Children, Young People and Education Committee for their report. Inquiries such as this do help to keep these important conversations on top of the agenda, and I would like to mention today some of the steps that we are taking. First of all, it's important that we don't ignore the power of the voices of children and...
Jeremy Miles: It is, of course, important, Dirprwy Lywydd, to emphasise that different learners have different needs. We want to empower schools to choose the outdoor learning experiences that best support their particular learners in their particular context. That will—and rightly will—look different for different learners, with different contexts at different ages. To be successful, our efforts to...
Jeremy Miles: ...across the curriculum, in areas such as health and well-being, science and technology, humanities, and the expressive arts. This is all made entirely clear in the statutory guidance that every school must take account of as they develop their curriculum. It is crucial that children and young people have the experience of outdoor learning throughout their time at school, and for those...
Jeremy Miles: I thank Alun Davies for that important set of questions. I share with him the ambition to make sure that all parts of our education system and all communities are able to benefit from this very ambitious scheme. One of the most exciting elements in it, I feel, has been the relationships that have been developed and established between schools and schools in other countries. Dirprwy Lywydd,...
Jeremy Miles: So, schools in Wales have been establishing mobilities to Belgium, to Bangladesh, to Canada and to Colombia and creating that network at a school level, where, previously, the focus would have been at a higher education level principally. He asked me to confirm the availability to all parts of the education sector. I think there were fewer applications from the further education sector than...
Jeremy Miles: ...the provision is diverse and entirely inclusive. But that theme extends through the fundamental purposes of Taith, and ensures that it's available to all kinds of learners, not just those in higher education, but also in further education and those involved with youth work. So, we will be measuring the reach of the scheme to ensure that it does deliver against that objective. In terms of...
Jeremy Miles: I am sure that Members will share my enthusiasm for the progress that Taith has made and the success it has already enjoyed in its first year. This will encourage education providers in their local areas to get involved with the programme if they are not already. We are developing an international education exchange programme for all learners in all of Wales. Some great work has been done...
Jeremy Miles: ...Europe when I visit Brussels to speak to MEPs and others next week. And although Taith carries a brilliant message to our international partners, it is just one part of our ambitious international education offer. Our international education programme, delivered by British Council Wales, continues to provide distinct projects that provide knowledge and skills for our young people to...
Jeremy Miles: I firmly believe that education has a key role to play in our response to those challenges.
Jeremy Miles: With its ambitious approach to international projects with a strategic focus, Taith will facilitate learners and educators taking an active role in working with and learning from international partners on issues that affect us all, such as climate change. To solve global issues, we need a global approach, and Taith will help us to deliver that. Taith has already had an impact overseas too,...
Jeremy Miles: This pathway is designed to provide even more support for projects that have a more strategic focus. For example, the themes for this year’s call are: developments in education; diversity and inclusion; and climate change. Applications close on 1 December, so there is still time to get applications developed and submitted. Two million pounds is available for these projects in the youth,...
Jeremy Miles: ...projects. Pathway 1, which focuses on the mobility of individuals, was launched in February this year and closed in May. Forty-six organisations were successful in their applications, with over 100 education providers involved. Those projects are going to bring opportunities to over 5,000 staff and learners in Wales. They are going to have life-changing learning experiences across the...
