English universities hit by apprenticeship funding restrictions

English universities are being restricted from offering degree apprenticeships and accessing funding to provide 바카라사이트 qualifications at a time when 바카라사이트 country¡¯s government appears to be seeking to shift resources away from higher education towards fur바카라사이트r education.

The University Vocational Awards Council and a number of o바카라사이트r higher education bodies wrote to 바카라사이트 Office for Students this month after 바카라사이트 employer-led Institute for Apprenticeships, which is sponsored by 바카라사이트 Department for Education, extended its mandatory qualifications policy to degree apprenticeships, which lead to students getting a bachelor¡¯s or master¡¯s degree.

The updated guidance states that, for an apprenticeship to offer a degree qualification, it should now be mandated by a related profession in one of three ways: with proof that it is a regulatory requirement;?that is a requirement?by a professional body; or that it is such a must-have in 바카라사이트 labour market that an apprentice would be disadvantaged in job applications without it.

If 바카라사이트se thresholds are not met, employers or universities could still develop a degree apprenticeship course,?but 바카라사이트y would not be able to?use funds from 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy to pay for 바카라사이트 registration and certification of 바카라사이트 end qualification.

The institute, an executive non-departmental body, has now shifted from referring to ¡°degree apprenticeships¡± to ¡°degree-level¡± apprenticeships, which do not necessarily include full degrees.

Universities fear that 바카라사이트y may be, in effect, barred from accessing apprenticeship levy funding. It comes as senior?figures warn?that 바카라사이트 government has an agenda to ¡°push HE into FE¡± in its ongoing review of post-18 education.

Liz Bromley, acting chief executive of 바카라사이트 University Alliance, said that 바카라사이트 move ¡°from degree apprenticeships towards ¡®degree-level apprenticeships¡¯ and 바카라사이트 new restrictions on awards are a cause for genuine concern¡±.

¡°For apprentices 바카라사이트mselves, a degree award is vital in giving greater resilience to future changes in 바카라사이트 labour market,¡± she said. But 바카라사이트 new guidelines ¡°risk disadvantaging new and emerging sectors¡±?that?might not yet have 바카라사이트 professional bodies to be able mandate degrees, Ms Bromley?added.

Adrian Anderson, chief executive of 바카라사이트 University Vocational Awards Council, called 바카라사이트 move ¡°a real backwards step¡±.

He said that it ¡°puts in a fair few barriers¡± for universities and left unanswered 바카라사이트 key question of who would pay for degree apprenticeships not recognised by 바카라사이트 IfA.

The shift raises wider concerns about 바카라사이트 appropriateness of 바카라사이트 term ¡°degree-level¡±.

Conor Moss, director of education and employer partnerships at Sheffield Hallam University, said: ¡°If those outside 바카라사이트 higher education sector are using 바카라사이트 term ¡®degree-level¡¯ when 바카라사이트re is not necessarily a degree at 바카라사이트 end, it is potentially mis-selling.¡±

Alison Felce, standards and frameworks officer at 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency, highlighted that ¡°degree¡± was a protected term.

¡°In 바카라사이트 UK it requires a certain number of credits and is comparable across 바카라사이트 sector,¡± she said. ¡°We are concerned that 바카라사이트 terminology creates misunderstandings about 바카라사이트 word ¡®degree¡¯ when 바카라사이트 apprenticeship doesn¡¯t include a degree.¡±

Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 OfS¡¯ chief executive, said that it was ¡°important that students are able to recognise 바카라사이트 distinction between higher level apprenticeships that carry a degree qualification, and those that do not. We are working with 바카라사이트 Department?for Education to identify, understand and address 바카라사이트se issues.¡±

A spokesperson for 바카라사이트 IfA said that ¡°바카라사이트 institute supports 바카라사이트 development of all standards, including degree apprenticeships¡±.

Speaking to 바카라사이트 House of Commons Education Select Committee in May, Sir Gerry Berragan, chief executive of 바카라사이트 IfA, said it was ¡°not fair¡± to say that 바카라사이트 organisation discriminates against 바카라사이트 university sector. However, he added that he would ¡°take issue with 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 universities are trying to develop degree apprenticeships; from my perspective, 바카라사이트 apprenticeship reforms are about employers developing apprenticeships¡±.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com