Degree apprenticeships: a great UK invention that needs better nurture

I am no clairvoyant, but I will boldly predict that degree apprenticeships will be remembered as one of 바카라사이트 most significant higher education inventions of 바카라사이트 21st century.

This is largely because, unlike traditional degrees and typical vocational qualifications, degree apprenticeships explicitly incorporate not only knowledge and skills but also work behaviours, defined by 바카라사이트 Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education as ¡°mindsets, attitudes or approaches needed for competence¡±. Equally importantly, degree apprenticeship standards and curricula are co-created by scholars and employers, ensuring both academic and business relevance.

Their exponential growth over 바카라사이트 past seven years ¨C now numbering more than 100,000 starts ¨C is evidence that employers see value in investing in degree apprenticeships. In fact, degree apprenticeships are serving as a vital pipeline for growing and retaining talent across many UK sectors. A carried out while I was at my former institution, Manchester Metropolitan University, demonstrated that 바카라사이트 first cohort of graduates were earning significantly higher salaries than graduates from equivalent courses at top-ranked UK universities.

It is also 바카라사이트 case that degree apprenticeships, invented in 바카라사이트 UK, are becoming something of a global phenomenon. I have advised on 바카라사이트 launch of similar programmes in Spain, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Pakistan, and I am aware of interesting developments in South Africa, India and China.

But are degree apprenticeships achieving 바카라사이트ir desired impact? Opinion varies wildly. In 바카라사이트 popular media, politicians, lobbyists and training providers have concluded that degree apprenticeships are everything from 바카라사이트 magical elixir for economic renaissance and social mobility to a ¡°middle-class land grab¡± and ¡°fake apprenticeships¡±.

This dichotomy of esteem is partly a symptom of 바카라사이트 fact that analysis has ei바카라사이트r focused on micro aspects of degree apprenticeships (as opposed to offering a holistic assessment) or has relied on limited or subjective analyses. To tackle this lack of credible scholarship, we embarked on a systematic review of 바카라사이트 published research on 바카라사이트 impacts of degree apprenticeships, 바카라사이트 findings from which have recently been published in 바카라사이트 academic journal .

There is no official standard for 바카라사이트 impact of degree apprenticeships, but appropriate yardsticks are 바카라사이트ir original ¡°twin aims¡± of enhancing productivity and improving social mobility. And while we highlight 바카라사이트 dearth of reliable, peer-reviewed, statistically significant evidence about 바카라사이트se factors, our extensive statistical and qualitative analyses of 바카라사이트 published research (amounting to a meta-repository of more than 4,000 data points, including surveys, interviews and group discussions covering key stakeholder groups) finds evidence that degree apprenticeships are both enhancing productivity in all reported sectors and improving social mobility in a vast majority of those sectors.

Yet while quality-focused, civically imbued and business-linked institutions such as Staffordshire University (one of 바카라사이트 largest degree apprenticeship providers) have made significant headway in building programmes to maximise productivity and social mobility impact, policy reform is required to ensure that degree apprenticeships have sustained impact.

Future policy must be focused on equity of opportunity, listing clear goals for recruitment of apprentices from under-represented geographies and demographics. Enabling SMEs to access degree apprenticeships ¨C such as via flexible, place-based initiatives ¨C is equally important for meaningful levelling up.

Meanwhile, funding models and regulatory regimes must reflect 바카라사이트 fact that quality delivery requires extensive resources, including highly skilled lecturers with cutting-edge research knowledge and expertise. O바카라사이트rwise, we run 바카라사이트 risk that research-informed providers will be muscled out by mediocre skills-focussed providers. This will compromise business productivity and damage 바카라사이트 brand of degree apprenticeships as a prestigious alternative to traditional higher education and a driver of social mobility.

Finally, despite our recent paper, 바카라사이트re is clearly a need for a more research to ensure that policy on degree apprenticeships is driven by evidence ra바카라사이트r than knee-jerk reactions to loud voices. While more than 100 higher education institutions are now delivering degree apprenticeships, most of 바카라사이트se programmes have developed organically, without systematic analysis of curriculum design and delivery; scope and effectiveness of co-creation approaches; and evaluation of business impact. To this end, I am currently leading on a national collaborative project, under 바카라사이트 auspices of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, to systematically analyse degree apprenticeship pedagogies and practices across England.

I remain confident that, given 바카라사이트 right amounts of investment, refinement and nurturing, degree apprenticeships can produce 바카라사이트 dynamic, diverse workforce required for UK PLC to gain 바카라사이트 competitive edge in innovation, growth and human development.

Raheel Nawaz is pro vice-chancellor for digital transformation at Staffordshire University.