BARNSLEY College bosses have backed a report calling for better collaboration between colleges and universities.

The report Partners in Progress: Colleges at the Forefront of Technical Education has been published by the Lifelong Education Institute (LEI) in partnership with the Mixed Economy Group of Colleges (MEG), which includes Barnsley College.

It calls to break down the long-standing barriers between further education (FE) and higher education (HE) arguing that it is essential to boosting economic growth, widening participation, and meeting urgent skills needs in key sectors.

The paper highlights that further education colleges already deliver around ten per cent of all level four to six provision in England and play a vital role in widening participation for adults, working learners, and those from disadvantaged communities.

It reinforces the critical contribution of FE colleges nationwide.

Despite this, many colleges continue to face a power imbalance within traditional HE partnership models, alongside limited recognition for their contribution to higher technical education.

College bosses have praised the report and have backed the call for closer and more equal FE-HE collaboration.

The college also supports the report’s emphasis on fully recognising the role colleges play in designing and delivering the higher-level skills that regional economies depend on.

Chief executive and principal David Akeroyd said: “Colleges are at the forefront of delivering the higher technical skills that our regional and national economies depend on, and this report rightly recognises their critical role within the higher education landscape.

“At Barnsley College, we see every day how strong partnerships between colleges, universities and employers expand opportunity, raise aspirations and respond directly to the skills needs in our communities.

“We support the call for a step change towards more equal, strategic collaboration across further and higher education.

“By working together, we can widen access to higher-level learning, strengthen technical pathways and ensure that our students and employers benefit from a more connected and responsive skills system.”