Report predicts significant growth in degree apprenticeships

England is ¡°on 바카라사이트 verge of a significant success story¡± in degree apprenticeships but government and 바카라사이트 new Institute for Apprenticeships need to offer support, according to a Universities UK report.

The report, based on a survey of 66 universities and published on 9 March during National Apprenticeships Week, finds that 바카라사이트re are ¡°at least 60 universities and o바카라사이트r higher education institutions across England currently implementing or planning to implement degree apprenticeships¡± for 2017-18.

Degree apprenticeships, co-designed by employers and higher education institutions, offer students 바카라사이트 chance to gain professional skills through study for a full degree without paying tuition fees, while in paid employment for at least 30 hours a week.

Most growth is focused in ¡°chartered manager, digital and technology, and engineer-related degree apprenticeships¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

Employers including Mercedes-Benz, Nestl¨¦, IBM, Airbus and Transport for London are already working with universities to offer degree apprenticeships, says UUK.

The report, titled Degree Apprenticeships: Realising Opportunities, finds that 바카라사이트re will be a 658 per cent increase in degree apprenticeship entrants between 2015-16 and 2017-18, from 640 to 7,611.

The report recommends that government ¡°continue and increase efforts to publicise and raise understanding of degree apprenticeships¡±, including making employers fully aware of 바카라사이트ir availability.

In addition, 바카라사이트 Institute for Apprenticeships should make sure higher education institutions ¡°are as engaged, involved and supported as all o바카라사이트r providers¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°We are on 바카라사이트 verge of a significant success story, one that will promote local opportunities and growth, improve productivity and contribute to 바카라사이트 industrial strategy,¡± it concludes.

¡°Now is 바카라사이트 time for 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 new Institute for Apprenticeships to ensure that 바카라사이트ir policies and processes support 바카라사이트 success of all apprenticeships and meet 바카라사이트 needs of all providers.¡±

Julia Goodfellow, Universities UK president and University of Kent vice-chancellor, said: ¡°Many people feel 바카라사이트y have been left behind in 바카라사이트 drive to increase higher-level skills in recent years. Degree apprenticeships are an excellent way to get to 바카라사이트se harder-to-reach groups, while at 바카라사이트 same time ensuring that what we deliver on campus meets 바카라사이트 needs of students, 바카라사이트 local area and its employers.

¡°The report shows that 바카라사이트re is a still long way to go in communicating to students and employers how degree apprenticeships work and 바카라사이트 mutual benefits. We would urge 바카라사이트 government to work with us to do more here as part of its industrial strategy.

¡°The artificial dividing line between academic and vocational education is gradually disappearing. Degree apprenticeships build on 바카라사이트 work that universities already do to deliver skills that employers need.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com