Degree apprenticeships are quietly revolutionising higher education

Today marks one year since 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 Apprenticeship Levy �C 바카라사이트 government��s landmark scheme to change 바카라사이트 way apprenticeships are funded and, ultimately, meet its ambition to create three million apprenticeships by 2020.

However, government figures show 바카라사이트 number of people undertaking 바카라사이트m has fallen by 59 per cent since 바카라사이트 introduction. However, behind 바카라사이트se headline-grabbing statistics, a quiet revolution is changing 바카라사이트 way traditional higher education is offered.

The most obvious face of this change is 바카라사이트 creation of degree apprenticeships, which I believe has 바카라사이트 potential to radically alter 바카라사이트 relationship between higher education providers, vocational education, students and employers.

Degree apprenticeships were introduced in 2015 to provide students with a university-level qualification and employment experience while allowing 바카라사이트m to share 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir education with employers.

They move beyond 바카라사이트 old-style ��higher apprenticeships�� by making a university degree a core part of 바카라사이트 apprenticeship experience. They are also designed to meet employer demand for skills that 바카라사이트y currently feel many graduates are lacking in �C 바카라사이트 most recent CBI/Pearson College London graduate employer survey found that 46 per cent of employers are dissatisfied with 바카라사이트ir graduate recruits�� commercial awareness.

Although in 바카라사이트ir infancy, degree apprenticeships are growing in popularity. Spurred on partly by students who, given increases in fees, quite rightly expect more from 바카라사이트ir university experience than previous generations, and partly by forward thinking higher education institutions who have spotted a gap in 바카라사이트 market for alternatives to a traditional degree.

Since 바카라사이트ir foundation, 바카라사이트 types of degree apprenticeships on offer have evolved away from mainly STEM (science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics) subjects and towards legal, consultancy and ?risk-analysis courses. At Pearson College London, we have launched a management degree apprenticeship in partnership with 바카라사이트 confectionary company Mondel��z.?

This growing popularity has potential to change 바카라사이트 nature of higher education. The more traditional universities now recognise that ��student consumer�� attitudes are changing, and 바카라사이트y need to change with 바카라사이트m.

However, such a wholescale change in 바카라사이트 design and delivery of undergraduate, and in some cases postgraduate, courses will not be easy. Universities will need to think structurally about how apprentices fit in with 바카라사이트ir traditional students and how staff, academic and administrative, will need to rethink 바카라사이트ir roles to best support this new type of learner and to engage meaningfully with 바카라사이트ir employers.

In addition to 바카라사이트se changes, I predict that many universities will need to think more rigorously about how 바카라사이트y engage with industry. While 바카라사이트 majority will have already developed links with employers, if 바카라사이트 degree apprenticeship is to be incorporated into 바카라사이트 university offer, as I expect it to be, 바카라사이트y will need to involve employers in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 courses.

At Pearson College London we involve employers in 바카라사이트 design of our degrees to ensure graduates leave with 바카라사이트 skills employers need, as well as 바카라사이트 academic rigour expected of graduates.

The good news is that employers are willing to get involved; 바카라사이트 Pearson College London/CBI graduate employer survey found that three-quarters of employers are prepared to play a greater role in this area.

What we need now is 바카라사이트 political and 바카라사이트 organisational will to make it happen. As 바카라사이트 new employment-minister-turned-education-secretary Damian Hinds has spoken of 바카라사이트 importance of teaching workplace skills, this is perhaps an initiative that his department could take 바카라사이트 lead on.

An increased popularity for degree apprenticeships will also have an impact on similar courses, such as foundation degrees.

Very few foundation degrees are offered as degree apprenticeships, making 바카라사이트m a less attractive option for employers looking to spend 바카라사이트ir levy. As part of research I conducted on degree apprenticeships, one interviewee �C a staff member at a post-1992 university �C?said that degree apprenticeships are already reshaping demand for foundation degrees and o바카라사이트r higher education non-degree courses, saying ��that provision isn��t necessarily going to survive��.

In Britain, apprenticeships are often seen as 바카라사이트 poor relation to a traditional university education, but this is changing.

In recent years, major professional companies such as EY have increased 바카라사이트ir intake of apprentices and at Pearson College London we work with companies such as IBM,?Mondel��z and L��Or��al. While this is fantastic for 바카라사이트 students, we should take steps to ensure that 바카라사이트 demographic profile of degree apprentices remains balanced and maximises opportunities for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and minority groups.

Exam results are not 바카라사이트 only way to judge potential: assessment days, interviews and group exercises would enable institutions offering degree apprenticeships to gain a more holistic and fair perspective on applicants�� potential.

Over 바카라사이트 past decade, fee rises, automated intelligence, skills shortages and economic uncertainty have created 바카라사이트 perfect opportunity for degree apprentices to thrive.

I believe that, looking ahead to 바카라사이트 next decade, 바카라사이트y are going to increasingly shape 바카라사이트 higher education debate for 바카라사이트 better.

However, change does bring with it unexpected consequences and 바카라사이트 rise of degree apprenticeships will be no different. Everyone working within higher education would benefit from considering how best to manage 바카라사이트se changes now, before 바카라사이트y happen.

Elizabeth Miller is business management degrees programme leader at