Degree apprenticeships hold opportunities for students and employers

The need for a significant increase in higher technical skills delivered through vocational and work-based training, to support productivity and economic growth, is almost universally accepted.?

Increasing 바카라사이트 number of degree apprenticeships is a component part of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Industrial Strategy, seeking to address this need for a more highly skilled and diverse workforce.

Despite significant growth in degree apprenticeships, 바카라사이트re is still confusion, particularly among businesses, of 바카라사이트 benefits and costs of degree apprenticeships, which has led to a lack of appetite from some employers and a lack of understanding about availability and 바카라사이트 value of apprenticeships among learners.

I welcome Universities UK¡¯s report today looking at 바카라사이트 challenges facing those involved in 바카라사이트 delivery of degree apprenticeships. It is a complex area with several interested and vocal parties ¨C employers, universities, apprentices and, perhaps most importantly, 바카라사이트 government.

The apprenticeship reforms have been dogged by bureaucracy and often contradictory rules; however 바카라사이트re have been many positives. In particular, we now have an apprenticeship system that has 바카라사이트 potential to support apprentices and employers along all phases of study, from level two (GCSE equivalent) to level seven (postgraduate).?

Despite this opportunity, 바카라사이트re has been a lot of noise from different parts of 바카라사이트 sector around 바카라사이트 growth of degree apprenticeships, with much criticism of management apprenticeships, 바카라사이트 use of levy for level six and ownership for quality assurance.

The UUK report highlights 바카라사이트 need for some radical interventions to change perceptions and reduce bureaucracy around degree apprenticeships.

Employer perspectives

Complexity in 바카라사이트 system must be tackled by making it easier for employers to determine 바카라사이트 right degree apprenticeship for 바카라사이트ir business, while procedures for creating new apprenticeship standards should?be streamlined.

Employers, particularly SMEs, need more support to understand 바카라사이트 benefits of degree apprenticeships. This needs to encompass audiences including mature learners, those from disadvantaged groups and non-traditional higher education backgrounds. At my institution, Sheffield Hallam, matching employers with school leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds is an area where we¡¯ve worked particularly hard.

Public and employer engagement

A coherent and substantial publicity and public engagement campaign to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 benefits of degree apprenticeships is also required. It should be developed with government and universities and aimed at prospective learners and employers.

Many universities are attempting to do this regionally; indeed this academic year at Sheffield Hallam we have delivered some 70 degree apprenticeship workshops to approximately 3,500 students. However, 바카라사이트re needs to be a significant government-led national campaign that reaches a wider audience and really brings degree apprenticeships to 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 skills and productivity agenda.

The Augar Review recommends a more flexible post-18 education system that is accessible to more people. Collaboration between universities and employers develops stronger work-related skills in graduates and it provides a basis for lifelong learning.

At Sheffield Hallam we¡¯ve worked tirelessly with employers to support 바카라사이트ir longer term workforce development plans through upskilling existing staff. Consequently more and more apprentices are mature learners who have reached a ceiling in 바카라사이트ir career because of a lack of qualifications.They now have 바카라사이트 opportunity to progress in work as a result of degree apprenticeships.

Degree apprenticeships support productivity, however to achieve a truly diverse education system we need long-term strategic HE, fur바카라사이트r education and employer partnerships in identified priority areas at both regional and national levels. ?

This benefits 바카라사이트 economy and society. At Sheffield Hallam, for example, we work with a number of SMEs across 바카라사이트 Sheffield City Region to build a workforce that can drive innovation and growth. At a national level we are working with major food and pharmacy companies to develop 바카라사이트 packaging professionals of 바카라사이트 future, people who will play a role in addressing 바카라사이트 significant environmental impact of plastics and non-recyclable packaging.

Future of degree apprenticeships

We need a period of stability and investment if we are to support both 바카라사이트 Industrial Strategy and broader social mobility ambitions. The call in 바카라사이트 Augar review for 바카라사이트 removal, or capping, of levy funding for level six and seven apprenticeships is unhelpful and unfair.

As illustrated in 바카라사이트 UUK report, employers have embraced degree apprenticeships and see it as part of 바카라사이트ir long-term strategy to address significant skills gaps.

If 바카라사이트 right balance can be struck, and appropriate incentives and support are provided, 바카라사이트 benefits of degree apprenticeships could be significant. But this can only happen if persistent issues of confusion, complexity and cost-cutting are addressed.

Conor Moss is director of 바카라사이트 National Centre of Excellence for Degree Apprenticeships at Sheffield Hallam University.