Degree Apprenticeship offer students not only a financial benefit but also practical, real-world experience in their field for the entirety of their course, learning valuable skills and making possibly even more valuable contacts.
So, will an increase in visibility and uptake change perspectives on apprenticeships? And what could be the knock on effect for FE colleges?
Looking at apprenticeships jobs in FE, it quickly becomes apparent that these roles are typically for more hands-on, practical positions, such as vehicle maintenance and healthcare. These are jobs that are vitally important to society on a daily basis.
For several years now, the UK as a whole has been talking about the oversaturation of university graduates. What we haven’t been talking about as much is how apprenticeships are the solution. Granted, this wouldn’t be for those who are already in the world of work, but up and coming students considering their next steps.
The value of apprenticeships is not singular. Apprentices learn a useful trade, one that there is already the demand for, such as construction or development (for web and tech). They also do not add to the increasing cost of loans for students going into studies. But there are other benefits too, namely for the FE sector.
This new calibre of apprenticeships could very well lead to an increased demand for them, and the inclusion of more and more subjects into Degree Apprenticeship schemes.
This in turn, could result in a demand for more apprenticeship teachers, provided that government funding allows for this niche in the sector to continue to continue to grow. Indeed, the number of apprentices has already doubled in the last 5 years, so these new apprenticeships could very well drive this growth even further.
These schemes are also leading to a change in apprenticeship teaching overall; allowing educators in the field the chance to teach their subjects in exciting new ways.
Will the potential improvements in the FE apprenticeships we would be filling more jobs in crucial areas, leading to these courses being seen as a clear, positive avenue for students. This is key because not all students benefit from learning in an academic University environment. It's possible that we are already losing out on brilliant apprentices or apprenticeships teachers by not making these courses available. Thankfully, that looks to be about to change.
AoCJobs, part of the Association of Colleges, connects teachers and support staff with schools and colleges for online job opportunities.
