Continuing Vocational Education in UK Higher Education Institutions: Organisation and management

This article reports on Continuing Vocational Education (CVE) in higher education in England. The findings described here were collected from interviews, documentary evidence and observations of activity. The evidence suggests the importance of a 'supply-side' model to chart the development of CVE. First, HEIs must audit and then use the resources they have to best effect. Second, HEIs must have effective managerial systems in place. Third, the organisation of the HEI will determine the development of CVE. Complementary to these stages is the capacity and willingness of HEIs to undertake economic evaluation of their provision. Internal and external efficiency must be considered. This model is, we argue, particularly important when set within the current policy context for HE.