Special issue introduction

Purpose - This introduction to the special edition aims to focus on the ssues that surround putting work-based learning into practice in the UK. Design/methodology/approach - The introduction is a brief survey and commentary on the issues surrounding work-based learning. A selection of papers is drawn from the timely 2006 University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) Annual Conference. UVAC, an international membership organisation has championed higher level vocational learning, particularly higher education (HE) engagement with employers and the workforce, and the selection of conference papers demonstrates the seriousness with which HE educators are taking this work forward. Findings - The introduction finds that a rebalancing of the priorities of HE institutions to make available relevant, flexible and responsive provision that meets the high skills needs of employers and their staff has arrived which requires us to reevaluate the university offer and as Waterhouse argues, "it is not that they can teach, nor even that they can sell research, but that they can assess: they accredit learning and are awarding bodies. It is this social certification of successful learning that individuals, employers and ultimately society pay for." The next reinvention for the sector is contemporary vocationalisation and responsiveness to economic imperatives rather than learning. Research limitations/implications - A wider survey of practice, particularly the use of employer standards, is now required to establish a common language between industry and HE. Practical implications - Implications are a progressive change to HE offering and an increased engagement with workforce development which requires changes to assessment and a greater use of accreditation and validation in the workplace. Originality/value - The introduction provides a succinct analysis of the work based learning and employer engagement in HE.