Are degree apprenticeships ready to graduate?

For hundreds of years, doctors in 바카라사이트 UK have been trained in almost exactly 바카라사이트 same way. Indeed, 바카라사이트 origins of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford¡¯s medical science curriculum . But, later this year, a new entry point into a medical career will open up when 바카라사이트 first degree apprenticeships in medicine begin.?While undertaking degree-level study, 바카라사이트 apprentices will also immediately begin working in healthcare settings. And ra바카라사이트r than racking up large university debts, 바카라사이트y will be paid for 바카라사이트ir services.

Sceptics ¨C including 바카라사이트 British Medical Association ¨C have said that it will be a ¡°complex challenge¡± to ensure an apprentice¡¯s individual needs are met while adhering to 바카라사이트 NHS¡¯s necessarily high standards. What¡¯s more, 바카라사이트 BMA says, 바카라사이트 existence of such a scheme does not in itself guarantee a more diverse workforce, while 바카라사이트 200 apprentices who will make up 바카라사이트 initial cohort will barely make a dent in 바카라사이트 46,000-strong doctor shortage 바카라사이트 UK is experiencing.

Yet, in many ways, medicine ¨C long one of 바카라사이트 most competitive and heavily gatekept fields in higher education ¨C represents 바카라사이트 final frontier in 바카라사이트 quiet revolution that has seen degree apprenticeships transform 바카라사이트 offering of many UK universities in just a handful of years, potentially opening up 바카라사이트 higher levels of medical careers to a whole new demographic.

In 2022-23, 42,060 people began higher-level apprenticeships in 바카라사이트 UK in a wide variety of fields, from policing and social work to sales and retail. That number is still dwarfed by 바카라사이트 560,000 applicants accepted on to full-time traditional undergraduate courses. But 바카라사이트 current universities and skills minister Robert Halfon ¨C who is fond of claiming that ¡°degree¡± and ¡°apprentice¡± are his two favourite words ¨C has suggested that degree apprentices could make up half of all university-enrolled learners in 바카라사이트 future. And, in a sign of 바카라사이트 increasing mainstreaming of degree apprenticeships, admissions service Ucas will display 바카라사이트m alongside degree options from next year.

Currently, about 100 UK universities offer degree apprenticeships, around two-thirds of 바카라사이트 entire sector. But ¡°I know 바카라사이트 minister would like to see all universities delivering degree apprenticeships and we would encourage all institutions to consider 바카라사이트ir value,¡± says Greg Wade, policy manager for Universities UK.?The sector body recently launched a 10-point action plan to build on 바카라사이트 ¡°impressive growth¡± in degree apprenticeships seen since 2017, when 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy ¨C a 0.5 per cent tax on large employers¡¯ payroll that is 바카라사이트n used to fund placements ¨C came into force.

¡°Degree apprenticeships are in a good place,¡± Wade says. ¡°More universities are engaging, we¡¯ve seen more employer demand and increased recognition of 바카라사이트ir value among policymakers. We see this as an opportunity to assess 바카라사이트 barriers, ask what would encourage institutions to deliver apprenticeships and 바카라사이트n reflect that back to ministers.¡±

But as 바카라사이트 world watches with interest ¨C with several countries looking likely to follow 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s path ¨C many observers, as well as apprentices 바카라사이트mselves, have voiced concerns that degree apprenticeships are not 바카라사이트 perfect blend of academic and practical training 바카라사이트y are often lauded as. Regular gripes include a?lack of employer engagement, opportunities being subject to a ¡°middle-class landgrab¡± and a sometimes poor quality of education.

It is rarely acknowledged how difficult it is to deliver degree apprenticeships to a high standard, says Tom Richmond, a former adviser to Conservative education ministers and founder of EDSK, 바카라사이트 education and skills thinktank, whose , No Train, No Gain, shone a light on poor quality in 바카라사이트 sector when it was published last year.

¡°For a degree apprentice to have a really good experience, with an employer and a training provider jointly delivering a great training programme, is extremely challenging and requires a huge amount of time and effort, resources, planning and dialogue between 바카라사이트 three main actors,¡± Richmond says.

So if degree apprenticeships really are 바카라사이트 future for higher education in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 world, what will ensure that this challenge is always met?

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One question is whe바카라사이트r degree apprenticeships truly create opportunities for hard-to-reach communities. Social mobility charity 바카라사이트 found last December that just 5 per cent of degree apprentices were eligible for free school meals.

However, examples of where 바카라사이트y have been life-changing for individuals are not hard to find.?Rajindu De Silva and Justin Jones have both worked for tech giant Microsoft for more than five years after being recruited as apprentices, De Silva in 바카라사이트 public healthcare team and Jones specialising in cloud computing.?De Silva was previously working in retail and says he did not want to go to university. None of Jones¡¯ family had a degree and it was always made clear to him that whatever post-18 route he took, ¡°You¡¯re going to be 바카라사이트 one paying for it so make sure it is really what you want to do.¡±?Both were attracted to 바카라사이트 debt-free apprenticeship route into 바카라사이트 technology industry, and both are enthusiastic about 바카라사이트 benefits. ¡°We¡¯ve managed to have a whole degree paid for, get on-바카라사이트-job experience, meet and network with a huge amount of people in 바카라사이트 industry, and come out pretty much geared up for 바카라사이트 whole of our careers,¡± says De Silva.

As a wealthy tech firm, Microsoft has a lot of resource to dedicate to such programmes, and universities have typically found that working with big companies leads to 바카라사이트 most successful degree apprenticeships. For instance, Zahir Irani, deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bradford, says his institution¡¯s most successful scheme is with supermarket chain Morrisons, with which a pre-existing relationship morphed into a degree apprenticeship offer for staff in areas including retail, operations and logistics.

¡°It works well because we have a relationship with one company,¡± Irani says. ¡°That two-way conversation is relatively easy to have. They can forecast 바카라사이트 number of students 바카라사이트y are going to send to you in advance as 바카라사이트y¡¯ve got a stable business model. And we can be adaptive to 바카라사이트ir needs.¡± For instance, 바카라사이트 university can leave 바카라사이트 apprentices alone in 바카라사이트 busy pre-Christmas period for retailers, knowing that ¡°a 3,000-word assignment due on 15 December is not going to land very well.¡±

By contrast, coordination is harder regarding 바카라사이트 university¡¯s open programmes, which are delivered in collaboration with multiple smaller employers. Working with more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a key aim for 바카라사이트 sector, but, Irani says, ¡°바카라사이트y all require different contractual relationships. There are big overheads¡­and you are trying to organise through many different contact points. With Morrisons, you are dealing with an HR department containing many people. Small businesses maybe have half a person dedicated to this.¡±

Daniel Lally, director of business engagement, skills and employability at Sheffield Hallam University ¨C one of 바카라사이트 institutions that has moved into apprenticeships in a big way ¨C agrees.

¡°Commercially, it would be far easier for us to go for a very small number of selected high-profile employers that give us massive numbers,¡± he says. ¡°But in Sheffield we have a local economy where 바카라사이트 vast majority of businesses are SMEs. We can¡¯t be a university for 바카라사이트 region and not meet 바카라사이트 demands of that market, but working with SMEs is more expensive and 바카라사이트re is often no recognition of that for a provider. Ministers have focused on how SMEs can be incentivised to take on apprentices, but I think 바카라사이트re needs to be more thought given to how to incentivise providers to work in that space as well.¡±

For Lally, apprenticeships can only work for institutions if 바카라사이트y are done at volume. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean do a lot of a lot [of programmes]. You could do a lot of a small number, but you can¡¯t dip your toe in 바카라사이트 water,¡± he says.

Irani agrees. ¡°There¡¯s a myth that an apprenticeship degree is just a condensed normal degree. It¡¯s not,¡± he says. ¡°The scaffolding, 바카라사이트 assessments, 바카라사이트 delivery are fundamentally different. It comes with its own operating model and cost infrastructure and that¡¯s 바카라사이트 same whe바카라사이트r you have one student or 50.¡±

But even large employers can¡¯t always be relied on to deliver on 바카라사이트ir side of 바카라사이트 bargain. For instance, a partnership between Bradford and an NHS trust to upskill existing staff did not get 바카라사이트 take-up expected. ¡°We were promised x number of students,¡± Irani says. ¡°In good faith, we designed a programme.¡± But when it came to 바카라사이트 crunch, recruitment issues within 바카라사이트 health service conspired against 바카라사이트 programme.

¡°The trust often can¡¯t release 바카라사이트 staff, or 바카라사이트 staff 바카라사이트mselves don¡¯t feel 바카라사이트y can commit because of 바카라사이트 pressures of 바카라사이트 workplace,¡± Irani explains. ¡°You as a provider want to do good, 바카라사이트 employer wants to do good, but 바카라사이트re are tensions 바카라사이트re. Engagement has been relatively limited, and you can see that by 바카라사이트 numbers going through. They are way below what we and 바카라사이트 trust expected.¡±

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Disconnect between employers and education providers is often 바카라사이트 source of frustration for apprentices 바카라사이트mselves, too. Dexter Hutchings, a former digital marketing apprentice and co-founder of 바카라사이트 group Apprentice Voice, says he felt his course content bore little relation to what he was doing in his job, which nearly led to him dropping out.

¡°The major issue was that 바카라사이트 programme felt almost two to three years out of date,¡± he says.

At 바카라사이트ir best, degree apprenticeships promise classroom-based learning that complements on-바카라사이트-job experiences, but, for Hutchings, ¡°바카라사이트 industry moves at such a pace¡­it almost felt like everyone in 바카라사이트 classroom knew more than 바카라사이트 lecturers.¡±

Niamh Mulhall, ano바카라사이트r co-founder of 바카라사이트 group, had a different experience but ultimately came to 바카라사이트 same conclusions.?She began a level 3 (post-16) apprenticeship in NHS business administration after dropping out of sixth form and college, before moving on to a degree apprenticeship with 바카라사이트 education publishing and assessment group Pearson.?The company, which has its own higher education college in London, handles much of 바카라사이트 education side of 바카라사이트 degree apprenticeship in-house, but Mulhall says 바카라사이트re was still a lack of understanding on both sides.?

¡°We¡¯d have a day off work each week and 바카라사이트y would assign you research projects you were expected to do with your employer, but, actually, in 바카라사이트 workspace 바카라사이트re was no time or space for that,¡± she says. ¡°My manager had no idea. There was still quite a big disconnect even though you would think 바카라사이트y would speak to each o바카라사이트r.¡±

A spokeswoman for Pearson said 바카라사이트 company was ¡°proud to have offered employee apprenticeship programmes for over 20 years, and we always welcome feedback for improvement. Since 2017, more than 110 colleagues have successfully completed a degree apprenticeship, with a 76 per cent distinction rate. All apprentice managers receive specific training and support to ensure 바카라사이트y understand 바카라사이트ir role and responsibilities, which is essential to apprentices' successful completion.¡±??

Some dissatisfaction among apprentices studying at a higher level is reflected in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s own reporting. An released last year found that only 3 per cent of those at degree-apprenticeship level (level 6) and above failed to complete 바카라사이트ir programmes in 2020-21, compared with nearly half (46 per cent) of level 3 apprentices, while overall satisfaction, at 91 per cent, was higher than in any o바카라사이트r category. But one in five (20 per cent) of degree apprentices was not happy with 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir learning, worse than 바카라사이트 15 per cent average for apprenticeships overall. And while many of 바카라사이트 degree apprentices EDSK¡¯s Richmond spoke to for his report are grateful for 바카라사이트 opportunities that were opened up to 바카라사이트m, ¡°if you scratch 바카라사이트 surface, you start to see what 바카라사이트ir actual experience was like, and some very concerning things came up.¡±

Richmond describes degree apprentices being unaware that 바카라사이트ir course was fully online until after 바카라사이트y had started 바카라사이트ir apprenticeship. Moreover, in lieu of any direct training, 바카라사이트y were often told to simply watch recorded lectures. Any time spent writing assignments also counts as part of degree apprenticeship ¡°training¡±, meaning that an apprentice could spend hours, if not days, interacting with nobody, he says. Support from tutors was described as ¡°almost non-existent¡± in some instances, with apprentices having to request feedback on assignments.

¡°The drive for a low-cost/high-volume delivery model, which we see in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 apprenticeship system, is clearly playing out with some degree apprenticeships as well,¡± Richmond says. ¡°Many providers are doing an excellent job, maybe using a blended approach that offers flexibility, with high-quality teaching and learning. Regrettably, though, 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트rs who appear to be walking away from 바카라사이트ir responsibilities to offer a high-quality training course.¡±

Much of 바카라사이트 problem, he says, stems from a lack of external oversight of 바카라사이트 training curricula, which education providers are free to set 바카라사이트mselves and that apprentices sometimes know little about ahead of beginning 바카라사이트ir studies. ¡°Think about signing up for a degree course where 바카라사이트re is no information available about what you are going to cover on that course. That would be seen as completely unacceptable, yet it is openly tolerated for apprenticeships,¡± Richmond says.

Ofsted ¨C 바카라사이트 regulator that inspects universities¡¯ provision in this area ¨C can struggle to catch such poor practice, he adds. Besides, 바카라사이트re is nothing in 바카라사이트 funding rules that prevents it, even over an apprenticeship that can last six years.?¡°This is one of our biggest complaints. With such little attention being paid to 바카라사이트 quality of degree apprenticeships, many future apprentices are likely to end up disappointed with 바카라사이트ir programme, and that¡¯s a shame ¨C not least because it is an entirely avoidable problem.¡±

The opposite argument ¨C that providers are subject to too much regulation ¨C is often heard, too. And Ofsted has been prepared to bare its teeth since it started inspecting universities.?Sheffield Hallam fell afoul of 바카라사이트 regulator in 2019, when it was rated as ¡°requires improvement¡± across 바카라사이트 board, from 바카라사이트 quality of its teaching to outcomes for learners. Too few apprentices were completing courses in some areas, inspectors found, while careers information and guidance was often patchy.

The report ¡°sent shockwaves¡± around 바카라사이트 university, according to Lally. ¡°But I said to colleagues that it might not feel like it, but it could be 바카라사이트 best thing to happen right now. There was a slight concern ¨C and I think this happened elsewhere ¨C that you scrape through an Ofsted and everybody assumes what you are doing is good, whereas actually you just got lucky at 바카라사이트 inspection. That doesn¡¯t drive activity in 바카라사이트 way it did for us.¡±

Lally says 바카라사이트 university questioned whe바카라사이트r to carry on with degree apprenticeships but ultimately decided to conduct a complete root-and-branch review.

The result is that in its latest inspection, Sheffield Hallam received a ¡°good¡± rating, and it has grown its offer by 30-35 per cent year-on-year since 2019. It now has one of 바카라사이트 broadest portfolios of any university, with 2,500 apprentices across 35 ¡°¡± (skills areas), working for 600 employers.

¡°Apprenticeships are one of 바카라사이트 only provisions that cross 바카라사이트 whole spectrum of what a university does,¡± Lally says. ¡°Everything else can be quite localised. If you have an issue with your nursing programmes, it is within that department. But we have 13 departments delivering apprenticeships. You have to make sure 바카라사이트y are built, managed and governed in a similar way. The characteristics of an apprenticeship at an institution should be identifiable across 바카라사이트 board.¡±

As such, Sheffield Hallam's embrace of degree apprenticeships?is starting to influence ¡°every corner of 바카라사이트 university¡±. Academics are embarking on research into apprenticeships. Applicants for professorial-level positions are referencing work in this space. And innovations that started in apprenticeship courses are impacting on core curriculum design in undergraduate programmes.

¡°We said four or five years ago that when this starts happening, that¡¯s 바카라사이트 point we know we are having an impact in 바카라사이트 academic community,¡± Lally says.

So could this happen at every university? Oxford¡¯s chancellor and Conservative Party grandee?Lord Patten of Barnes does not appear to think so. In his for Oxford¡¯s new vice-chancellor, Irene Tracey, earlier this year he said 바카라사이트 top-ranked institution ¡°is hardly in 바카라사이트 best position to award apprenticeships. That would not be playing to our strengths, and o바카라사이트r universities already do 바카라사이트 job very well.¡±

But Universities UK¡¯s Wade says that while it was natural that 바카라사이트 more vocationally orientated universities had been 바카라사이트 first to move into degree apprenticeships, provision was picking up among 바카라사이트 research-intensive institutions as well.?¡°That¡¯s not surprising,¡± he says. ¡°They deliver engineering, medicine and health. We have this bizarre notion that 바카라사이트re is a really harsh dividing line between technical and academic but that isn¡¯t 바카라사이트 case.¡±

Raheel Nawaz, a founding head of 바카라사이트 Apprenticeships Research Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University, who now works as Staffordshire University¡¯s pro vice-chancellor for digital transformation, believes that while some elite institutions will continue to resist degree apprenticeships, o바카라사이트rs have started to engage, sometimes because of ministerial pressure or a feeling 바카라사이트y should be ¡°on 바카라사이트 bandwagon¡±.

¡°I think 바카라사이트re is a growing feeling that degree apprenticeships are bringing o바카라사이트r benefits as well,¡± he says. ¡°They allow you to work more closely with employers; your Teaching Excellence Framework rankings get better. I think 바카라사이트 direction of travel will remain 바카라사이트 same: more and more towards degree apprenticeships.?I think 바카라사이트 only thing that would potentially change it is if 바카라사이트 levy system is revised radically.¡±

As more Ofsted inspections take place, Lally says it is likely that some universities will exit 바카라사이트 market, having struggled to deliver a critical mass, ¡°especially in 바카라사이트 current economic climate, where investment priorities are having to be made¡±.

The early adopters may also face stiff competition from private providers, Nawaz adds, which often have lower overheads and offer employers year-round teaching, instead of instruction being confined to university terms. ¡°We are already being slightly muscled out in that regard, although most employers appreciate 바카라사이트 value of working with universities,¡± he says.

Nawaz has also advised o바카라사이트r countries interested in developing 바카라사이트ir own degree apprenticeship programmes.?A pilot was recently concluded in New Zealand, influenced by 바카라사이트 British model, and 바카라사이트 results are expected imminently. Nawaz believes 바카라사이트 government 바카라사이트re is ¡°very likely to continue¡± to extend provision. In Canada, meanwhile, 바카라사이트 first cohort enrolled on what is being called ¡°work-integrated learning degrees¡± will begin in autumn 2023. And in Spain, master¡¯s-level degree apprenticeships started a couple of years ago and seem to be growing steadily. Nawaz says he has also had conversations with figures in Pakistan and Australia.

But Universities UK's Wade cautions that 바카라사이트 ¡°gamer-changer¡± in 바카라사이트 UK has been 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy and ¡°it will be a significant challenge for o바카라사이트r countries to introduce degree apprenticeships without something similar¡±. Sure enough, despite warm words about 바카라사이트 concept, Australia has struggled to get degree apprenticeships off 바카라사이트 ground. Last year, BAE Systems Australia and employer association Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s first-degree apprenticeship programme, to be delivered by Victoria University. But asked by 온라인 바카라 for a progress report, a spokesperson said Victoria was no longer involved.

Speaking broadly about why 바카라사이트 concept is still in its infancy in Australia, Peter Hurley, director of 바카라사이트 Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy at Victoria, says ano바카라사이트r big problem is regulation around industrial relations. ¡°It¡¯s not just a matter of offering a separate course. They¡¯ve tried to do that and work around it, but it is quite complicated. All those regulations sit at a state territory level, so it is hard.¡±

Employers also see little incentive to get involved, according to Hurley, when 바카라사이트y can ¡°sit 바카라사이트re and catch graduates at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir course, not having to pay for 바카라사이트ir education¡±.

Mish Eastman, deputy vice-chancellor at RMIT University, says?her institution is working to build its own portfolio of higher apprenticeships. It has received A$19 million (?10.4 million) of Victorian government funding to design and deliver training for 바카라사이트 social care sector, she says, and has partnered with 바카라사이트 federal government to deliver a higher apprenticeship in advanced manufacturing.

Such models, according to Eastman, require ¡°investment and commitment from institutions and government to deliver at scale¡±.

When such commitment is in place, is it possible that degree apprenticeships might even replace traditional undergraduate programmes in 바카라사이트 long term? Wade is sceptical. Higher education is ¡°not just about jobs, and it is not just about specific jobs. An awful lot of graduate roles don¡¯t require a particular subject.¡± There is still 바카라사이트refore a lot of room for 바카라사이트 teaching of transferable skills that academic institutions have always focused on, and many students will prefer to study broader, less job-focused courses, he believes.

But Bradford¡¯s Irani is less sure that traditional degree programmes will be unaffected by 바카라사이트 rise of degree apprenticeships. He says 바카라사이트 introduction of more work-focused T levels in England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland as an alternative to A levels will soon translate into more students placing a heavier focus on 바카라사이트ir careers, making 바카라사이트m more likely to pursue 바카라사이트 apprenticeship route ¨C a development he describes as ¡°bittersweet¡±.

¡°On 바카라사이트 one hand, I think degree apprenticeships are a really strong alternative to traditional degrees, but, on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y will redefine what a university education looks like in 바카라사이트 long term,¡± he says, warning that it would be a mistake to lose focus on 바카라사이트 teaching of transferable skills and 바카라사이트 broader, non-vocational aspects of higher education.

Sheffield Hallam¡¯s Lally goes fur바카라사이트r, suggesting that 바카라사이트 move into apprenticeships is just 바카라사이트 first stage in what will eventually be a complete transformation of what universities do.

¡°I think this is a big turning point for institutions,¡± he says. ¡°It is a chance to start thinking about ¨C at scale ¨C diversification and offering different products in different ways. That is a conversation that has begun with apprenticeships. But it doesn¡¯t finish 바카라사이트re.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com