Research universities ¡®should lead on higher apprenticeships'

That is 바카라사이트 view of Sir Keith Burnett, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, and Sir Nigel Thrift, his counterpart at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, who argue in a new report that vocational education should not be seen as 바카라사이트 ¡°poor relation¡± of academia.

They say that leading universities should work with employers to develop apprenticeships linked to cutting-edge research which would drive economic growth in high-skilled industries such as aerospace, nuclear energy and automotive manufacturing.

According to 바카라사이트 published on 11 March, ¡°The Future of Higher Vocational Education¡±, this would entail a rethinking of leading universities¡¯ admissions criteria, to recognise 바카라사이트 potential of students holding BTEC qualifications.

It would also necessitate a change in teaching methods, with an emphasis on lab-based teaching, mentoring, projects and work placements.

Such centres could be designated as Royal Technology Centres, to underline 바카라사이트ir status, 바카라사이트 report says.

This vision would build on 바카라사이트 success of Sheffield¡¯s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, a collaboration with Boeing and Rolls-Royce, which has graduated its first cohort of 250 advanced apprentices.

These were employed and funded during 바카라사이트ir apprenticeship by industry sponsors, and are offered progression routes to undergraduate study as well as doctorates and MBAs.

At Warwick, 바카라사이트 model is WMG, formerly Warwick Manufacturing Group, which has worked closely with Jaguar Land Rover.

Its apprentices can expect to be earning around ?32,000 by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y finish 바카라사이트ir course and can collect technical qualifications as well as Warwick degrees.

The report says this model of industry funding could be replicated across 바카라사이트 sector but suggests differences in academic and vocational funding could be overcome by an approach such as a voucher system.

In addition, 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England should support higher vocational places within universities ¡°to provide a premium for quality¡±, 바카라사이트 report adds.

Sir Keith said that all 바카라사이트 main political parties had spoken of 바카라사이트 need to streng바카라사이트n vocational education and to increase 바카라사이트 number of apprenticeships, but that this has not been accompanied by clarity about 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트se apprenticeships and how 바카라사이트y link to industry.

Subjects taught in leading universities such as medicine, law and architecture can be classed as vocational, he added.

¡°British society needs a new way of approaching 바카라사이트 relationship between 바카라사이트 manufacturing world and 바카라사이트 conceptual world,¡± Sir Keith told 온라인 바카라. ¡°The Germans know this, 바카라사이트 Swiss know this, and 바카라사이트 French know this, and we have got it wrong.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com