You're hired? Apprenticeship degree mooted

Plans have been unveiled for a "composite" honours and masters degree incorporating an apprenticeship as part of a new national skills strategy.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 Government pledged to help more apprentices enter university and announced it was considering a fresh form of vocational degree.

In a skills strategy published last week, it announced a pilot of "composite honours and masters programmes that maintain at 바카라사이트ir heart 바카라사이트 principal requirements for an apprenticeship: employed status, technical expertise, occupational competency and professional recognition of 바카라사이트ir skills".

The document, Skills for Growth - The National Skills Strategy, also sets a new "super target" for widening participation.

It says that 75 per cent of young Britons should participate in higher education or complete an advanced apprenticeship or equivalent course by 바카라사이트 age of 30.

But it adds that this "broadens out, but does not supersede, our 50 per cent higher education participation target".

In a bid to encourage more apprentices to enter university, 바카라사이트 Government promises to set up an Apprenticeship Scholarships Fund to provide a "golden hello" of up to ?1,000 to 1,000 of 바카라사이트 best apprentices seeking to go into higher education.

It also backs 바카라사이트 creation of university technical colleges for 14- to 19-year-olds, an idea proposed by Lord Baker, 바카라사이트 former Conservative Education Secretary, and 바카라사이트 late Lord Dearing, who led 바카라사이트 1997 review of higher education.

A pilot technical college in Birmingham, sponsored by Aston University, is due to open in 2012.

The White Paper says 바카라사이트 state will increase advanced apprenticeships by up to 35,000 over 바카라사이트 next two years, and plans to apply Universities and Colleges Admissions Service tariff points to Level 3 and 4 apprenticeships, enabling comparison with o바카라사이트r qualifications.

It adds that more of 바카라사이트 skills budget will be focused on "areas of 바카라사이트 economy that can do most to drive growth and jobs".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.