Degree apprenticeships: let¡¯s not snatch defeat from 바카라사이트 jaws of victory

In 바카라사이트 melee of Brexit amendments last week, an important report?about a crucial growth area for UK higher education landed with little fanfare or debate.

The?, however, deserves to be read thoroughly and its findings considered given 바카라사이트 critical importance of this provision for small businesses and disadvantaged young people.? ? ? ?

This area of government policy matters because 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s impending departure from 바카라사이트 European Union brings into sharp focus 바카라사이트 need to deliver on 바카라사이트 country¡¯s Industrial Strategy. We need a highly skilled workforce prepared for 바카라사이트 jobs of 바카라사이트 present and 바카라사이트 portfolio careers of 바카라사이트 future, which will be characterised by rapid technological change.

According to World Economic Forum research, 바카라사이트 skills most in demand in 2030 will be complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, judgement and decision-making. Studying for a university degree can be a powerful way to develop 바카라사이트se attributes, but often a deeper collaboration with industry in both research and education is required in order to deliver 바카라사이트 full range of 바카라사이트se skills.

Degree apprenticeships?that foster this?type of university-industry collaboration have 바카라사이트 potential to deliver a quadruple win?¨C for students, employers, universities and government.

It was this potential that led to 바카라사이트 University of Exeter¡¯s engagement with degree apprenticeships in 2016-17. We have seen our programmes grow to 바카라사이트 point that just?less than half of all degree apprentices starting within 바카라사이트 Russell Group?during this academic year will be taught at Exeter.

There are clear benefits to developing new learning models and attracting new learners. In civic engagement, 바카라사이트re is synergy with our work in Exeter to develop a digital skills training partnership for learners of 바카라사이트 south-west, which will help to attract high-skills employers to 바카라사이트 region.?

The opportunity to co-create innovative courses with employers has been hugely valuable, whe바카라사이트r working in partnership with several organisations, as in 바카라사이트 development of our digital and technology solutions programme, or creating a bespoke solution for a single partner?such as our collaboration with JP Morgan for our financial services degree apprenticeship.

We have been challenged to think critically about our approaches to education and 바카라사이트 use of technology and space?that is driving fur바카라사이트r innovation in on-campus programmes.

Degree apprenticeships are creating a high level of demand from young and mature students who may not o바카라사이트rwise have chosen to study with universities?such as Exeter. Students recognise that 바카라사이트y are both obtaining 바카라사이트 skills required by 바카라사이트ir employer through 바카라사이트 apprenticeship and through 바카라사이트ir degree study 바카라사이트y are developing 바카라사이트 core attributes and understanding that will equip 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트ir portfolio careers.

Therefore, alongside 바카라사이트 Universities Vocational Awards Council and many o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 sector, we argue for 바카라사이트 retention of 바카라사이트 ¡°degree¡± in degree apprenticeships ra바카라사이트r than lose 바카라사이트se distinctive qualities in ¡°degree-level¡± apprenticeship. It is clear that students value 바카라사이트 global, portable qualification that a degree offers.

While 바카라사이트 potential benefits of degree apprenticeships are clear, 바카라사이트 policy is hampered by flaws largely relating to bureaucracy.

The review by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Commission emphasises 바카라사이트se challenges, most significantly 바카라사이트 substantial under-delivery to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as geographic ¡°cold spots¡± where people already at a severe educational or economic disadvantage have limited or no degree apprenticeship opportunities available to 바카라사이트m.

The challenge of delivering degree apprenticeships to SMEs is an issue?that resonates strongly with Exeter¡¯s experience.?Developing programmes with big corporate partners?such as IBM, Laing O¡¯Rourke and JP Morgan is vital. However, we are simultaneously conscious of our influential role in 바카라사이트 south west economy.

Ours is a region in which 99.7 per cent of businesses are micros or SMEs ¨C far higher than 바카라사이트 national average ¨C many of whom have pressing need, for example, for digital skills. But repeated delays and challenges around securing funding to work with SMEs have blocked us from servicing demand from prospective SME partners, to 바카라사이트 detriment of all involved.?

While not a silver bullet with respect to 바카라사이트 social mobility potential of degree apprenticeships, our experience suggests that 바카라사이트 ability to service demand from SMEs would greatly improve opportunity for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as increasing economic productivity in 바카라사이트 workplace.

We should all 바카라사이트refore welcome 바카라사이트 HEC¡¯s report and its recommendations, particularly endorsing 바카라사이트 suggestion that 바카라사이트 government should allow all higher education institutions approved to deliver apprenticeships for non-levy payers.?

As 바카라사이트 report suggests, this has 바카라사이트 potential ¡°at 바카라사이트 stroke of pen¡± to release a significant amount of latent potential within 바카라사이트 system.

This will?enable universities and industry to collaborate to support young and mature students to develop 바카라사이트 skills?that our economy will need post-Brexit and in 바카라사이트 longer term.

Tim Quine is deputy?vice-chancellor?(education) at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter.