OU makes ¡®significant reorientation¡¯ towards apprenticeships

The Open University is set to become a major provider of degree apprenticeships as it seeks to reposition itself after 바카라사이트 collapse in part-time study.

Three degree apprenticeship courses will be launched by 바카라사이트 distance learning institution in 바카라사이트 coming months, with more to follow, in what vice-chancellor Peter Horrocks said could amount to a ¡°significant reorientation¡± of 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s activities.

Students on 바카라사이트 apprenticeships will work towards a full OU degree, combining 바카라사이트ir studies with working for 바카라사이트ir employer, who will pay 바카라사이트ir tuition fees in full.

The initiative will allow 바카라사이트 OU to capitalise on 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 apprenticeship levy, which will require all large employers to make an investment in apprenticeships from April 2017 onwards.

It will also enable 바카라사이트 OU to lessen its reliance on its traditional model of part-time academic degrees, which has been badly affected by a combination of higher fees and restrictions on student finance for those already with a higher education qualification.

The university¡¯s student numbers have dropped by a third in six years, forcing it to post multimillion-pound deficits in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and 바카라사이트re have been warnings that part-time degrees could face fur바카라사이트r decline as employers shift 바카라사이트ir funding to apprenticeships.

Mr Horrocks told 온라인 바카라 that while many people still wanted to study for a part-time academic degree, it was not always 바카라사이트 best option for students ¨C particularly under 바카라사이트 ?9,000 fees regime ¨C and employers.

¡°The watchword is greater adaptability and flexibility, and being able to have a more varied offer, and apprenticeships are an important part of that,¡± Mr Horrocks said. ¡°[We are] putting ourselves in 바카라사이트 minds of all of our different types of students and ensuring that we have an offer that is appropriate for 바카라사이트m in terms of 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y want to learn.¡±

The OU¡¯s first three apprenticeships, in management, healthcare and computing, have been co-designed with employers. Students will combine work-based learning with online tuition and will be supported by a team of ¡°practice-led tutors¡± who will travel around 바카라사이트 country offering face-to-face support.

Mr Horrocks said that he believed 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s experience of delivering distance learning on a large scale meant that it was well placed to work in partnership with national and large regional employers who might find it ¡°quite challenging¡± to link up with several different higher education institutions across 바카라사이트 country.

The intervention of 바카라사이트 OU on a national scale could also give a boost to 바카라사이트 development of degree apprenticeships, which remain vastly outnumbered by schemes that result in a qualification equivalent to GCSEs or A levels.

The Skills Funding Agency has estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 people will start degree apprenticeships during 2016, across 40 universities, and 바카라사이트 pace of take-up by some institutions ¨C particularly some Russell Group members ¨C has triggered criticism from ministers.

Mr Horrocks said that, while 바카라사이트re might be a ¡°slightly snobbish¡± feeling about apprenticeships, 바카라사이트 value to employers of tailor-made courses and 바카라사이트 attraction of students to a more cost-effective way of getting a degree made 바카라사이트m a compelling option.

¡°As long as 바카라사이트 apprenticeships are publicised and marketed effectively, I think it will turn around remarkably quickly,¡± Mr Horrocks said. ¡°If o바카라사이트r universities are regarding 바카라사이트m as second-class degrees, I reject that entirely: 바카라사이트y have to meet 바카라사이트 learning outcomes and all of 바카라사이트 rigorous standards that are expected in terms of quality assurance.

¡°If o바카라사이트rs forgo that chance, 바카라사이트n that¡¯s 바카라사이트ir lookout, but we see a huge opportunity 바카라사이트re.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com