Established in 2017, The College Alliance is a collaborative network that brings together college Principals and Chief Executives from across England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales and their college membership bodies, alongside senior government officials from the national governments and funding bodies, and other sector partners. Aligned with the vision set forth by the Independent Commission on the College of the Future, we are committed to championing the "reimagining" of colleges over the next decade.
Who we are
Established in 2017, The College Alliance is a collaborative network that brings together college Principals/ Chief Executives from across England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales and their college membership bodies, alongside senior government officials from the national governments and funding bodies, and other sector partners. Aligned with the vision set forth by the Independent Commission on the College of the Future, we are committed to championing the "reimagining" of colleges over the next decade.
We exist to:
- Share lessons and best practice from across the different national systems: We serve as a forum for discussions on the post 16 education and skills systems across the UK and Republic of Ireland, supporting learnings from the diverse approaches.
- Support thought leadership and long-term thinking: We are committed to sector development, including through commissioning policy work and research. We provide a space for sector leaders to come together to lead long-term thinking – reflecting on what we need from our post 16 education and skills system as we look at the challenges and changes we face nationally, and internationally.
- Providing a space for peer exchange: We bring together leaders from across the different national systems, from wider government and the wider sector - and we seek to galvanise further work between leaders, across national boundaries.
Colleges play a pivotal role in supporting economic and societal development. They are poised to lead the way in strengthening our communities, enhancing skills and driving the workforce of the future. At The College Alliance we are dedicated to advancing the college sector to play its fullest possible role for people, productivity and place.
We believe that true progress comes through collaboration. By bringing together leaders and officials, we serve as a platform for positive contributions to both practice and policy. Together, we can seize opportunities and tackle challenges head-on with a mutual respect for each other’s roles and responsibilities.
Our Network
Within the College Alliance network, our members convene twice a year for two key events: a network meeting and a larger International Conference. The hosting nation alternates annually among the network nations.
The College Alliance network is comprised of a group of individuals who actively contribute to our community. Currently, we operate as a closed group, and membership is by managed via key stakeholders in each of the nations. We welcome expressions of interest from individuals passionate about contributing to our network. If you're interested in being part of our community, please feel free to submit an expression of interest, and our team will review it with care.
Our History
Established in 2017 as The Four Nations College Alliance, the Alliance originated from the recognition that, as a sector, we were focused either on the detail of our own national systems, or looking to international approaches from far afield – and we were doing far too little to learn from the emerging distinct approaches being taken within our neighbouring countries.
In 2019, the Alliance group took a significant step by commissioning The Independent Commission on the College of the Future. This three-year project unveiled clear aspirations for a thriving college sector in 2030, outlining the necessary trajectory to achieve these goals.
As the Alliance continued to strengthen, engagement was developed with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland, as a system to be represented. In 2023, the Alliance underwent a name change to The College Alliance, reflecting and acknowledging this addition.
In 2024, marking a new chapter in our journey, The College Alliance group launched its first website. This platform serves as a hub for disseminating insights garnered from Alliance activities to the broader public domain.
Our network is ever evolving, with well-attended activities that draw contributions from key sector players. The College Alliance remains committed to advancing the collective understanding and collaboration within the college sector.
Stay Informed
Stay informed about sector developments across the UK and Ireland by subscribing to our newsletter. Produced in collaboration with our supporters, the newsletter provides a comprehensive summary of ongoing initiatives. Sign up here to receive these updates.
Periodically, the College Alliance organises short webinars addressing specific sector topics. These webinars are free of charge. Visit the events page for more details. Recordings are available for download.