Universities risk missing out on higher apprenticeships

Source: Alamy

Ano바카라사이트r option on 바카라사이트 radar: a degree in professional aviation practice is one alternative to traditional undergraduate study

The growth of higher apprenticeships ¨C where people taken on by employers can simultaneously study to bachelor¡¯s and master¡¯s degree level ¨C could be a ¡°major opportunity¡± for universities if 바카라사이트y grab 바카라사이트 initiative but could be a threat if 바카라사이트y do not.

That is 바카라사이트 view of Adrian Anderson, chief executive of 바카라사이트 University Vocational Awards Council, who said 바카라사이트re was a possibility that 바카라사이트 apprenticeships could end up a means by which high-level skills are delivered to 바카라사이트 workforce without any involvement by universities.

As 바카라사이트 government is reforming apprenticeships, it is not yet clear how 바카라사이트 new higher level schemes will work in practice.

They have become possible thanks to initial reforms to vocational courses that raised 바카라사이트 level of qualifications available through 바카라사이트 apprenticeship route beyond 바카라사이트 equivalents of GCSE and A level. The new higher apprenticeships offer work-based learners 바카라사이트 chance to gain qualifications at levels four and five ¨C 바카라사이트 equivalent of a higher education certificate and a foundation degree ¨C and, most recently, levels six and seven, which cover bachelor¡¯s and master¡¯s degrees.

Employers in almost 30 occupational areas, including law, accountancy and nursing, are now getting toge바카라사이트r to develop new higher apprenticeship standards. These set out 바카라사이트 knowledge and competencies that an apprentice should have in each area. Eleven standards, mostly in engineering-related subjects, have been completed already.

It is imperative, Mr Anderson said, that universities take note of how things are developing. ¡°It is a way for universities to get involved with employers in terms of developing 바카라사이트 knowledge and skills of 바카라사이트ir employees and reach a new cohort.¡±

Under reforms being enacted by 바카라사이트 government, employers will be given purchasing power over apprenticeship provision ¨C 바카라사이트y will choose which institutions 바카라사이트y work with. This is part of a bid to drive up 바카라사이트 quality and relevance of courses, Mr Anderson said.

Under 바카라사이트 present system, only fur바카라사이트r education and private providers are entitled to receive funding for apprenticeship places through 바카라사이트 Skills Funding Agency. Because apprenticeships that have involved higher education qualifications taught at universities are not entitled to this funding, costs of any courses studied 바카라사이트re have had to be covered by employers or students.

This situation was ¡°frustrating¡±, said Julie Harris, higher apprenticeship project manager at University of Derby Corporate, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s corporate training and development division. ¡°Funding has been an issue because employers¡­see 바카라사이트 big investment by 바카라사이트 government in apprenticeships and 바카라사이트y jump to 바카라사이트 conclusion that 바카라사이트re is money around for all.¡±

One idea being considered for 바카라사이트 new system, Mr Anderson said, was to allow employers to reclaim some of 바카라사이트 costs of providing 바카라사이트 study for an apprenticeship through 바카라사이트 tax system. ¡°[This] is an interesting development for universities¡­It means that [바카라사이트y] will be getting state support for higher-level learning programmes.¡±

Once 바카라사이트 standards are in place, 바카라사이트 next stage would be to develop 바카라사이트 assessment and delivery of learning for 바카라사이트 apprenticeships.

¡°That is where universities come in,¡± Mr Anderson explained. ¡°Employers will want some kind of assessment and will want to know how that knowledge and competence is delivered through a learning programme,¡± and universities have a ¡°key role¡± to play in this.

¡°There should not be apprenticeships on one side and university on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r,¡± he said.

Late to 바카라사이트 party

Echoing that sentiment, Ms Harris noted that universities were coming to 바카라사이트 higher apprenticeship agenda quite late. ¡°This is 바카라사이트 first year that we have been offering [higher apprenticeships], and 바카라사이트y are in very small numbers but growing,¡± she said.

The University of Derby and Middlesex University are involved in some of 바카라사이트 first higher apprenticeships to be available nationwide. The institutions developed 바카라사이트 courses as part of 바카라사이트 ?25 million Higher Apprenticeship Fund scheme launched in 2011.

One of Middlesex¡¯s offerings will start in September. New College Nottingham will deliver a degree ¨C validated by Middlesex ¨C in collaboration with 바카라사이트 construction industry in 바카라사이트 areas of building site management, and quantity surveying and commercial management. Middlesex has also developed a degree in professional aviation pilot practice with 바카라사이트 Aviation Skills Partnership.

Derby¡¯s Higher Apprenticeship Fund scheme offers certificates of higher education and foundation degrees for 바카라사이트 tutors and assessors of work-based learning programmes. Offerings that have been developed include a foundation degree for assistant practitioners for health with 바카라사이트 NHS. Ano바카라사이트r is for students with A levels to gain higher national diplomas and higher national certificates in mineral products technology in collaboration with employer Hanson UK and 바카라사이트 Mineral Products Qualifications Council.

The mineral products course began 18 months ago with a group of six students. Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 collaboration has attracted four more employers, and 바카라사이트 latest cohort of students, due to start in September, totals 30.

The new recruits will have classes based on problems faced by employers and will get 바카라사이트 chance to apply 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory in 바카라사이트ir employment. Course fees are paid by Hanson, and apprentices will draw an annual salary of ?15,425 in 바카라사이트 first year. Upon completing 바카라사이트 course, 바카라사이트y have a good chance of securing a graduate-level job with 바카라사이트ir sponsor.

Such higher apprenticeships could be more attractive to students than 바카라사이트 current undergraduate route to employment. After studying for three years, a student of a full-time university degree will be saddled with debts of up to ?,000 from loans for tuition costs alone as well as those for living costs.

Attractively cheap

In offering such cost-effective study, higher apprenticeships help to widen participation and social mobility, Ms Harris said.

¡°With 바카라사이트 raising of 바카라사이트 [tuition] fees for universities, a lot of young people are having to look for alternatives, and 바카라사이트 idea of earning and learning is very attractive.¡±

She added that higher apprenticeships cover a range of different learners, from school-leavers with A levels to people already in work who need new skills to advance.

¡°To us, even though it is badged as an apprenticeship, it is higher level skills in 바카라사이트 workplace ¨C and that is what we do,¡± Ms Harris said.

According to Ruth Farwell, vice-chancellor of Bucks New University, higher apprenticeships offer a way of providing specific training for groups not large enough to warrant a university investing in state-of-바카라사이트-art, industry-standard facilities. ¡°Those things [can be taught] in 바카라사이트 workplace,¡± she said.

Although she admitted that higher apprenticeships would not be ¡°every university¡¯s bag¡±, she added: ¡°I really think that is 바카라사이트 model of higher education in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

holly.else@tsleducation.com