Brett Wigdortz OBE

Bravo to the International Higher Education Commission (IHEC) Oxford International Education Group Rt Hon Chris Skidmore & all those involved in this report. It is worth noting that there has been no, Non-EU #graduateoutcomes data from HESA: Higher Education Statistics Agency since 2019, & at that point knowing how critical this data would be to the sector Asia Careers Group SDN BHD stepped in immediately to fill this significant data gap. Since then ACG has collected over 70,000 UK international graduate’s #career journeys, for over 60 UK universities & has undertaken this work unfunded by government &/or sector bodies. This data is now readily available to all UK #universities committed to “investing in international #futures” & data can be collected retrospectively for institutions if needed. The annual institution subscription cost is £9,950. Alternatively a report on the entire data set 70,000+ UK Non-EU graduates, could be made available to government &/or sector bodies for £350,000, if there is in fact a appetite to invest on behalf of a UK #highereducation sector under significant financial pressure at the present time. As one can imagine this has been a significant financial undertaking & one #hesa has been unwilling to take on. Let us hope the UK sector is now truly committed to understanding Non-EU #graduateoutcomes & supporting the transition of their #overseasstudents to the workforce both in the UK & even more importantly back in their home countries. Data also exists for all 40 #Australian universities should governments & or sector bodies wish to benchmark UK graduate outcomes against another English speaking study destination. “Graduate outcomes data was also a big part of the report – or the lack of it, which has been highlighted before by other organisations. “HESA stopped calling international students to save costs; the UK government mandated a 10% efficiency saving for HESA, & telephone follow-up… was a significant expense,” the report said, adding that such a decision was a concern for institutions & student bodies. Low response rates also mean a lack of evidence of the #employability of the UK’s #internationalstudents, – a critical decision-making factor for #students who are looking to the UK as a #study destination.” A Universities UK International report found just 3% of international student’s said they’re university #careersservice helped them find a job, up from just 2% in 2019. We all have to do a far better job in making good on our promise to international students & their successful transition to the workforce. Asia Careers Group SDN BHD AGCAS AUIDF British Council BUILA Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Jisc Office for Students National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (NAGCAS) Russell Group of Universities UCAS UKCISA Universities Australia Universities Scotland Universities UK

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Three key insights on AI’s role in shaping the future of education

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How do you drive change in schools? Our new report explores how to maximise the impact of innovation in education - with insights for teachers, school leaders, academics, policymakers, and charities on ways to increase your influence. It’s based on the lessons learned from our evaluation of the Templeton World Charity Foundation ‘Big Questions in Classrooms’ initiative to promote inter-disciplinary teaching. Some of the key findings include:  ☑️ Involve teachers in research. ☑️ Focus on culture.  ☑️ Target school leaders & multi-academy trusts. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eaqZHzGp 

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The sooner we see more learning institutions realising the connection between whole child education and a positive school climate, the sooner we will reap the rewards of positive transformation towards quality learning in our Education System

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The July 2024 General Election - A Crucial Turning Point for the Youth Sector As the July 2024 general election approaches, young adults across the UK are preparing to make their voices heard. ESTEEM Charity, we believe this election is a pivotal moment for the youth sector, with the potential to shape the future of millions of young lives. Historically, young people have been underrepresented in the electoral process. This year, however, we’re hoping for a surge in political engagement among youth. The many issues at stake are too significant to ignore, including inequality, climate change, education, mental health, employment, and housing. The decisions made by the next government will directly impact the opportunities and challenges faced by today’s youth. ESTEEM will be working with partner organisations to ensure young adults are informed and feel empowered to vote. Young people are facing significant barriers, which all political parties need to commit to addressing: - equal access to quality education, training, and more funds to support those from lower income and diverse backgrounds - the youth mental health crisis - long waiting times and insufficient resources mean many young people do not receive the support they need. Compared to the England average, the rate of emergency hospital admissions for self-harm is significantly higher in West Sussex. - Young people have been at the forefront of the climate movement, demanding urgent action to combat climate change. The incoming government must implement robust policies to reduce carbon emissions, invest in renewable energy, and promote sustainable practices. - The lack of affordable and accessible housing is a significant barrier for young people trying to establish their independence. Housing should not be a commodity The upcoming general election is an opportunity for young adults to shape their future. At ESTEEM we’ve seen firsthand the power of youth advocacy. When young people come together to demand change, they can drive the political agenda and hold leaders accountable. We encourage all young people to engage with their local candidates, ask tough questions, and vote for policies that reflect their values and aspirations. Every vote counts, and collective action can lead to meaningful change. We believe in the power of the youth sector and the young adults we work with to drive positive change, and we stand ready to amplify their voices. Together, we're working towards a future where every young person has the chance to thrive. We urge all young people to get informed, get involved, and most importantly, get out and vote. We will be sharing resources over the next 6 weeks: https://lnkd.in/erUm3qRT

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Cllr Bailes said the Ofsted report showed the Merchant Venturers have ‘failed to deliver a better future for young people in these areas’. “The recent Ofsted report on Merchant's Academy, a dismal reflection of 15 years of poor leadership by the Merchant Ventures, comes as no surprise,” she said. “A generation of pupils has been left behind, their potential stifled by a system that failed to provide them with the education they deserved. While apologies may be offered, they cannot erase the damage inflicted. “The high levels of exclusions, particularly permanent ones, are a mere band-aid, masking the school's failings. Excluded children often find themselves entangled in the criminal justice system, a cycle that exacerbates rather than solves the problem,” she added. “The arrival of E-ACT brings a glimmer of hope, a chance for a fresh start. The hope is that under their leadership, the school will see vast improvements in the quality of education and the safety of all pupils, parents, and staff. While 14 years of austerity have undoubtedly contributed to the poor outcomes of many pupils from marginalized communities like Hartcliffe and Withywood, the Merchant Ventures should have been the beacon of positive school reform that the academy system promised. “Instead, it has failed to deliver a better future for young people in these areas. Change won't happen overnight, but the new head teacher, Guy Swallow, has shown a willingness to listen to pupils and parents, relaxing the overly strict uniform policy and punitive punishment system. The implementation of rewards for good behavior has been well received, a much-needed shift in the school's culture. “With aspirations for the school running high, the return of A-Levels next year, as promised by Mr. Swallow, is a positive step towards a brighter future. This will allow pupils to achieve more than they currently can, giving them the tools they need to succeed in life,” she added. https://lnkd.in/e4wQWVQ6

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🌟 Calling All Young Voices in the UK! 🌟 Are you ready to make a difference on the global stage? Your voice matters more than ever, and we want to hear it loud and clear! 🌍 Join us in shaping the future of youth engagement in the UK! 🌍 As the Inclusion and Equal Opportunities delegate representing the UK at the Youth G7 Summit in Rome, we are dedicated to amplifying YOUR perspectives. We believe in creating a future where every young person has a seat at the table and a voice in policymaking. Your input is crucial in informing our research for groundbreaking policy proposals. By participating in our survey, you're not just sharing your thoughts – you're driving real change at the highest levels of government. Here's why you should get involved: ✨ Your voice will be heard by global leaders at the G7 Summit. ✨ You'll contribute to policies that promote inclusion and equal opportunities for ALL young people. ✨ You'll help shape the future of youth engagement in the UK and beyond. Ready to make history? Take a few minutes to complete our survey and be part of something truly impactful. Together, we can build a brighter future for generations to come! Click here to participate: https://lnkd.in/ezmAcXwR Thank you for being a driving force for change! Together, we can make a difference. #YouthEmpowerment #G7Summit #InclusionMatters #EqualOpportunities #YouthVoice

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With UK #highereducation institutions already facing #costcutting & #redundancies, we should all question how we got here. With record numbers of #internationalstudents & the UK emerging from the #pandemic relatively unscathed, those working in #internationaleducation are right to ask sector bodies & lobbying organisations purporting to act in their interests: ‘What went wrong?’ Commentating on the state of international #education in the UK since 2019 resembles something akin to a slow-motion car crash, as #poststudywork #visas, hailed as essential for the sustained growth of international #studentrecruitment, have become the sector’s de facto crutch in the absence of a strategy to support #internationalgraduates’ transition to successful careers back in their home countries. “UK universities rank behind only the #NHS, the country’s armed forces & the Royal Family in a league table of institutions considered to be among the best in the world by the public – yet #highereducation comes right towards the bottom of their list of priorities at the general #election, even if they do show real concern about the possibility of institutions closing, according to a new survey. The research, by the Policy Institute at King's College London, also finds net satisfaction with how #universities are performing their role in society has doubled since 1991 – in stark contrast to various other institutions & people, such as parliament & government ministers, where it has declined by around 20% over the same period. Despite this, universities rank 26th out of 29 policy issues that could influence how people vote at the upcoming general election, & are now seen as much less important in determining which party the public will vote for than they were ahead of the 1997 general election. The research suggests this may in part be due to low awareness of current challenges: when presented with a list of eight key institutions that could be facing serious funding pressures & at risk of closure, the public are least likely to identify universities as being under threat. But when asked how they’d feel about widespread closures of UK universities because of funding challenges, seven in 10 (68%) people say they’d be worried, with the public by far most likely to blame the UK government (61%) in such a scenario. Three-quarters (76%) of those who voted in Labour in 2019 say the government would be most to blame, while nearly half (44%) of Conservative voters also hold this view.” Asia Careers Group SDN BHD - Investing in International Futures AGCAS British Council BUILA Department for Business and Trade Department for Education Higher Education Policy Institute Institute of Student Employers UCAS UKCISA Universities Scotland Universities UK Universities UK International Universities Wales

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How the next government can deliver better outcomes for Britain - read on!

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🌟 Exciting Opportunity for Young Entrepreneurs in Wales! 🌟 Are you a budding entrepreneur aged 18-30 in Wales? Community Foundation Wales has a grant for you! 🚀 🔍 What is SWEF? Our SWEF Fund provides business grants of up to £2,000 to young entrepreneurs who meet the following criteria: - Aged between 18 and 30 - Living in Wales - Operating their business for no more than 2 years OR in the development/pilot stage, having conducted market research and expecting to start trading soon - Lacking easy access to other sources of finance 💡 How Can You Use the Grant? The SWEF grant can be used for various purposes, including: - Investing in equipment to boost revenues - Enhancing production capabilities based on proven demand - Purchasing materials or stock for a new product line - Creating prototypes (excluding app development costs) - Building a website or booking system - Funding training opportunities - Supporting product development Richard Selby MBE DL, Business Insider, Business in Focus, Michael O'Toole, The Prince's Trust, Philip Jones - please share this opportunity with your network. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity! Apply now and take your business to new heights. 📈💼 #SWEF #BusinessGrants #Entrepreneurship #Wales #YoungPeople #Funding # Grants

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https://lnkd.in/dBNzFHUJ Here is my personal take: #SchoolMeals play a very vital role in the well-being of children, more so those from disadvantaged backgrounds; every effort should be made to ensure the provision of universal school meals. School meals are key in: ✅️ Fighting #hunger ✅️ Driving #education ✅️ Improving the #health and #nutrition status of school children. ✅️ Promoting local #agricultural production and the #economy (a 2020 study by the School Meals Coalition Research Consortium found that in low- and middle-income countries, an average of $9 was returned by investing $1 in school meals programs).

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This is important! Please read. The parties need to start talking about education, education, education!

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We’ve been talking about ambition this week. It’s one of our core values at Future, Barking and Dagenham Youth Zone, Legacy Youth Zone, Croydon and across the wider OnSide Network. Being ambitious allows us the opportunity to be open to new ideas and different ways of working. It creates a forward thinking culture where colleagues feel safe to make mistakes as we know it’s part of the journey. It’s also important to recognise that upholding the value of ambition can have unintended consequences and acknowledging these within conversations is important. The constant drive to be ambitious can end up feeling tiring as you’re always striving to do more and be better. Too much ambition in a room can create an unrealistic level of optimism which could end up sending the organisation in the wrong direction. Sometimes budgets, business plans and role profiles don’t always allow for ambition to truly flourish which can be frustrating for individuals wanting to push ahead. However, we all know that AMAZING things are only achieved when individuals and organisations think big so my top tips for ambitious workplaces are: 🤗 Embrace colleagues who want to offer a more realistic outlook on ideas. Their perspective will help you to refine and improve those ambitious ideas. 👷‍♀️ Build opportunities into budgets and business plans for people to be ambitious. It’s great to have a plan but all good plans need some flexibility to jump on opportunities and evolve depending on changing circumstances. 👏 Be as proud of colleagues who try something different that doesn’t quite work as you are of colleagues who are successful in their tasks and activities. This will create a sense of safety amongst the team and eradicate the fear of failure. Big shout out to some of my amazing colleagues this week who I’ve had ambitious conversations with including Sereena Lewis, Queenie Chizea, Zahra Naqvi, Viorel-Constantin Uta, Myke Catterall, Clare Kanakides, Julia Bates, Ochuko Adekoya and many more.

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Using #poststudywork (PSW) as the foundation for long-term #internationalstudent growth in UK #highered, has always been an accident waiting to happen! Whilst it is a seductive argument that garners attention, it totally ignores the fact that by far the majority of #internationalstudents return to their home countries after graduation. Over 86% since the reinstatement of #PSW. Finding ways to understand & develop their #internationalgraduates’ #careers in source countries, should for the last three years have been core to a university’s strategy for building a sustainable competitive advantage. While the #highereducation sector lay the blame squarely at the governments door, it is not as if for the last five years #universities have been operating in a bubble. They would have been well aware, one would have thought, of frozen tuition fees, rising inflation & increasing interest rates. We find ourselves wondering why this is a government problem & not one for universities themselves to address? With record #Internationalstudent numbers & international #tuition fees for the last three years, where has all the money gone? The warning signs havebeen there since #poststudyworkrights for #Internationalstudents were reinstated in 2019. With damaging newspaper headlines week to week, plus a government [& opposition] hell bent on reducing #immigration in the run up to the next #election, what does the future hold for #UK #tertiaryeducation? University of Aberdeen University of Brighton Coventry University University of East Anglia University of Essex Goldsmiths, University of London The University of Huddersfield University of Kent University of Lincoln Northumbria University University of Portsmouth Queen Mary University of London Sheffield Hallam University Staffordshire University University of Surrey Swansea University & University of Winchester have all announced cost cutting &/or staff redundancies. It all could have been different, if armed with international #graduateoutcomes data back in 2020 universities & sector bodies had effectively lobbied government to show that the majority of international #students return home to embark on successful #careers. The powers that be, had a long enough runway to shift the narrative away from post-study work & focus on supporting the majority of international students (80%+) that return home. Data on Non-EU graduate outcomes was available from Asia Careers Group SDN BHD then & now, if #universities & sector bodies are serious about maintaining UK market share & more importantly investing in international futures. Asia Careers Group SDN BHD - Investing in International Futures AGCAS British Council BUILA Department for Business and Trade Department for Education Higher Education Policy Institute UCAS UKCISA Universities Scotland Universities UK Universities UK International

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🔒💻🛡️ What do you do on a Monday evening…read todays updated on Gov.uk “Meeting digital and technology standards in schools and colleges? https://lnkd.in/eS5Jb2EQ Updated today, there are significant changes to help schools and colleges improve their cyber resilience. Cyber security is not solely an IT task. It's a collaborative effort involving both the senior leadership team (SLT) and IT, teachers, students and all users of school networks. Here’s are some key points: 1. Conduct a Cyber Risk Assessment Annually with termly review: - Incorporates elements from the previous disaster recovery and contingency planning. - Emphasises the importance of ongoing risk assessments. 2. Create and Implement a Cyber Awareness Plan: - Builds on the previous training standards for staff. - Highlights the need for cyber awareness among both students and staff. 3. Secure Digital Technology and Data: - Integrates standards for anti-malware, firewalls, and security configurations. - Ensures all network devices are protected and up-to-date. 4. Control and Secure User Accounts: - Focuses on access privileges, password security, and multi-factor authentication. 5. Report Cyber Attacks: - Ensures clear protocols for reporting attacks both internally and externally. 🔐📚 👥 Let's work together to make cyber security a priority in education! #CyberSecurity #Education #DfE #ITSupport #SchoolLeadership #DigitalSafety #DataProtection #CyberAwareness #EdTech #SchoolSafety

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As colleagues meet at #IHEF2024 this week, it is time for those working in UK universities to #lobby those that represent them. It is critical to impress upon #highereducation sector bodies, the importance of immediately “investing in international futures!” Robust, representative Non-EU #graduateoutcomes & destinations data is immediately available from Asia Careers Group SDN BHD to all UK universities [& has been since 2019,] the only barrier is the reluctance of those that represent the UK #highered sector to act in their members best interests. With many UK Higher #Education Institutions facing significant cost cutting & mass redundancies, we should all question how we got here? With record numbers of #internationalstudents & the UK emerging from the #pandemic relatively unscathed, those working in #internationaleducation are right to ask those acting in their interests “what went wrong?” Since 2019 the warning signs have been there in black & white, the fate of the UK #highered sector has been foretold numerous times, in the #highereducation press & beyond. (See comments) If the sector wish to change the narrative they must all lobby those that represent them, at #IHEF & other public forums to impress upon them, that an annual collective investment by sector bodies of just £350,000 in Non-EU graduate outcomes data would in many ways protect & #future proof a sector worth over £40 billion to the UK economy. This will be critical if Vivienne Stern, CEO of Universities UK, is correct when she says there is “a very high risk of a manifesto from The Conservative Party that includes a commitment to removing the graduate route”. The Labour Party likely to follow suit, in a fight to win the #redwall. Investing in Non-EU Graduate Outcomes is a way to immediately influence MAC & provide all UK universities a Plan B to increase international #studentrecruitment & support their existing #internationalstudents transition successfully to the workforce back in their home countries. If the sector evidence now that inbound international student #recruitment is largely #immigration neutral, with by far the majority of #internationalstudents returning to their home countries & into successful #careers following their studies. MAC reports in the May, so if the sector commission Non EU #graduateoutcomes data now, they have a chance of submitting their findings before MAC reports, universities would have a Plan B & #psw could receive a stay of execution? “There are fears the Conservatives might pledge to scrap the UK’s graduate visa route in their election manifesto, putting pressure on Labour, if a review of the #graduateroute does not first lead to its abolition.” Asia Careers Group SDN BHD - Investing in International Futures AGCAS British Council BUILA Higher Education Policy Institute Jisc Office for Students UCAS UKCISA Universities UK International

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Fabulous day at Blackpool Children’s Education Conference yesterday, delivering my CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) workshop. Thank you Dr Elaine Allen OBE and mark cowell. I only had to contend with a few hours of failing trains but these headteachers have had to contend with years of their schools and seaside communities being neglected and left behind through lack of regeneration and austerity. And yet, what struck me was the energy in the room. An absolute determination to ensure their children thrive. Can’t think of an attitude more closely aligned to CLPE’s core value. Every child deserves to be literate and to be literate they deserve the same access to resources as everyone else. In this case, we explored key principles we need to consider when teaching children using English as an additional language; children who are literally learning to learn in another language. And we explored how to put these principles into practice in the classroom and through high-quality texts and non-reductive teaching approaches - drawing on established research (of course!) and what we know that works in the classroom right now, particularly for schools supporting educationally vulnerable children and disadvantaged communities. Our Power of Reading English curriculum offers all our children a rich and cohesive curriculum with teaching sequences carefully designed to scaffold language development from reading into writing. The approaches are utterly steeped in evidence and rigorously reviewed with real children in mind through our CLPE community. We know it has been designed to work for children who are using English as an additional language as well as other educationally vulnerable children. We know it is adaptable to suit the needs and interests of different children. And it brings the joy back into teaching, which surely matters in these times. Encouraging teachers to reflect on why and how their practice works (or doesn’t) with the children they have before them isn’t loose, it’s essential for them to really have an impact on each child. And, of course, it’s essential for a teacher’s professional development and status. We’re proud to have held Early Career Teachers to develop best practice as well as helped retain some wonderfully experienced but disillusioned teachers because of this agency and knowledge that they are making a difference in joyful ways. If you are in Blackpool or anywhere in the North West, we are bringing Power of Reading to you in Manchester! Join our CLPE community and let us help you and your teachers to make a difference.

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'The launch of the Centre for Young Lives #RaisingTheNation Play Commission' - Paul Lindley OBE ⤵️ We launch our Commission in the middle of an election campaign and with huge political decisions ahead, first for voters and then for a new Parliament. As those decisions are made, the future of our children must be at the centre of the debate. Politicians should ask how our children can thrive: how they can feel significant, be confident, have life affirming childhoods and become the people that they each have the potential to be. Because thriving childhoods reflect thriving societies, and as play is central to thriving childhoods, it should be central to political decision-making. The way children explore, experiment and build an understanding of the world really matters. That is why, we have created the Raising the Nation Play Commission: to stimulate a conversation, gather evidence, demand barriers to play are broken down and to offer a framework for government to create an environment, facilities, time and a culture for children to do their work – and play. We will deliver our findings, and a plan for the Government to consider, on 11 June 2025 – the second International Day of Play.  As we begin our journey, we invite your contributions, ideas, energy and support! #Play #FreePlay #PlaySufficiency #PhysicalActivity #PhysicalLiteracy #Recreation #ActiveTravel #PlayStreet #StreetPlay #HomeZones #Playces #Splace #FreerangeUrbanNeighbourhoods #FUN #KnowBallGames #Parks #Playgrounds #UNCRC #Article31

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Thank you Leora Cruddas CBE and the team at https://cstuk.org.uk/ for framing the challenge to the next administration so well. "We call on all parties and whichever party forms the next government, to set out plans for:  A cross-government national strategy to address child poverty. Wider public services reform to alleviate the crisis of vulnerable children, including SEND, mental health services, and surrounding issues such as youth violence. An evidenced-led strategy for the whole of the schools’ workforce, including the recruitment and retention of teachers and a plan to address shortage subjects. Fair per-pupil funding that is sufficient and sustainable, and equitable and includes weighting for disadvantage; and a capital framework ensuring we have enough school places and schools are safe and good places of learning. Proportionate and intelligent frameworks of public accountability, inspection and regulation."

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