11 February 2022

The world of work is undergoing significant changes. Digitalisation and automation are advancing at pace and this will bring new social and economic tests and opportunities as the skills required by employers continue to evolve.  Covid-19 has also had the effect of accelerating many of these changes, with different economic demands coming to the fore as we emerge from the pandemic.  

These developments, combined with Wales’ ageing demographic, means that providing people with the opportunities to reskill or upskill is more important than ever.

One way in which our universities are looking to meet this challenge is through the delivery of degree apprenticeships. Combining university studies with on-the-job training, degree apprenticeships offer an alternative route to higher level qualifications, while furnishing learners with the skills that today’s employers are looking for.

A new route to a degree

The degree apprenticeship programme first began in Wales in 2018/19 with the introduction of the digital degree apprenticeship. Since then, the programme has expanded to also include apprenticeships in engineering and advanced manufacturing.

Learners undertaking a degree apprenticeship spend around 20% of their time at university and the rest with their employer. By working alongside experienced employees to gain practical skills and experience while receiving external training, degree apprentices finish their course with skills learned in the workplace, as well as with the higher-level knowledge that comes with a degree qualification.

Ben Atkins, a Senior IT Specialist at Digital Health and Social Care Wales undertook a degree apprenticeship at University of Wales Trinity St David and credited the “invaluable skills” gained through the programme for enabling him to progress through the organisation.

Widening access

By offering a new route to gaining a degree, degree apprenticeships play a vital role in enabling those already in the workforce or who have responsibilities that make full-time study challenging to access.

A woman working at a computer with two screens

There is good evidence to suggest that degree apprenticeships are more effective than traditional undergraduate study at supporting people from disadvantaged areas into degree study, and degree apprenticeships are becoming an attractive route for those who may not have pursued these subjects previously.

In the programme's first year, more women accessed digital degree apprenticeships in this field than through traditional recruitment, accounting for 21% of the first-year digital degree apprenticeship cohort compared to 13% of the traditional undergraduate cohort in computing. Similarly, Scotland has seen a growth in women doing graduate apprenticeships in STEM frameworks, with participation ahead of the average across all higher education.    

Skills for the future

As well as providing more flexible learning opportunities for learners, degree apprenticeships also deliver tangible benefits to employers.

We are already seeing a growing call for higher level skills in Wales, and this comes at a time when automation risks shrinking the occupation sectors upon which Wales depends. Providing opportunities to reskill or upskill is increasingly important and we know that businesses want the support of the higher education sector to build a resilient and adaptable workforce that can deliver for Wales.

As Wales responds to the challenges of the changing workplace, forms of flexible learning such as degree apprenticeships will be key to addressing the skills gap and ensuring that those skills uplifts are relevant.

The future of degree apprenticeships

The benefits of degree apprenticeships are clear, with a recent evaluation reporting that the programme has the potential to widen participation in higher-level skills provision, increase social mobility, improve productivity and increase innovation and competitiveness. 

However, there is more work to do.

Construction site with worker in hi-vis and safety helmet

Demand for degree apprenticeships has been growing across the UK. In England there are 88 apprenticeship standards approved for delivery at bachelor’s, master’s and even PhD-level, with available subjects as diverse as architecture, economics and pharmacy.  In Scotland there are 11 graduate apprenticeship frameworks.

In order to meet demand and support the future growth of Welsh businesses, it is important to build and expand on the success of the degree apprenticeships programme. Our members have highlighted a huge appetite for apprenticeships at degree (and higher levels) in areas such as quantity surveying, life sciences, law, leadership and management and construction. 

This is why we are advocating an expansion of the programme in Wales to fund a greater range of degree apprenticeships, including at Master’s level. 

By doing so, we can support businesses to grow and, importantly, provide people with new opportunities to gain the skills and qualifications for a successful career.