Since 2017, universities across the country have delivered Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) as an earn-and-learn route to getting a degree. Universities Scotland Head of Learning and Teaching Dr Kirsty Conlon reflects on graduate apprenticeships and how making them more adaptable will benefit the learner, universities, employers, and the economy.
Graduate apprenticeships form an innovative element of vocational learning, delivered as part of a diverse skills landscape to students and in partnership with a range of industries. Learners, employers, and universities are all enthusiastic about GAs, so why has their expansion stalled?
As ever, lack of funding is one of the factors which is holding back the creation of more places. Yet, there are other process issues that could be resolved without cost to employers or to Government and which would make the development of new graduate apprenticeships far more responsive to changing business needs. The current system hinges on having a “framework” to underpin each different apprenticeship. There’s a framework for civil engineering and a different one for an apprenticeship in cyber security. The process involved in creating a new framework or even adjusting an existing one is slow, inflexible and bureaucratic. There are still only 15 graduate apprenticeship frameworks in existence, nearly a decade on from their introduction – which overlooks entire sectors as well as most of the NHS workforce. Universities have the interest and ability to expand this to reach far more industries. The framework processes we have now do not reflect the pace employers and universities want to move to meet Scotland’s skills needs.
This needs to change. The Scottish Government intends to move responsibility for graduate apprenticeship frameworks, and apprenticeships more broadly, from Skills Development Scotland to the Scottish Funding Council. A Bill – the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) Bill – which is nearing the final stages in Parliament, would bring this into effect. We see the shift in responsibility as the perfect time to strip back the bureaucracy surrounding frameworks and re-work a new process.
Universities and apprenticeship employers agree we want a move to greater efficiency and effectiveness that taking action would be a boost to the future of graduate apprenticeships in Scotland.
Reflecting on the inability of GAs to be responsive, Pauline McCafferty, Talent and Leadership Development Manager North Lanarkshire Council explains:
“We have a large and committed Graduate Apprenticeship programme, with over 100 students, however we have found the framework model to be restrictive. We have to fit ourselves to the frameworks, rather than them being responsive to our business need which can be frustrating. However, we have worked closely with the University of the West of Scotland to create work-based learning opportunities to fill these roles that sit outwith the frameworks which has been very successful. Removing the restrictions around frameworks would help us respond quicker to the specific needs of our local area and the students we work with.”
Employers told us not enough people know GAs are an option for them. On accessing and knowledge of GAs Jen Davies, Head of Workforce Renewals at SPEN added:
“Increasing both the accessibility and availability of Graduate Apprenticeships is vital to address skills shortages and build a sustainable development pipeline to future proof workforce demands. However, we have also found there is not enough awareness of Graduate Apprenticeships as a route to university and improving knowledge within schools, colleges and the wider business community would be beneficial.”
With the Tertiary Education and Training (Scotland) Bill coming to a close today there is the opportunity to remove restrictions around frameworks and make GAs more responsive to business need.
Having a mixed provision of academic and vocational skills helps both the employer and the student. Jen Davies explains: “As an employer we find Graduate Apprenticeships hugely beneficial. We have, in the apprentice, an employee who becomes productive in their role quickly while undertaking their degree, and who reaches business readiness for their destination role in a shorter timeframe than a traditional graduate route.”
Universities have worked hard to build connections with businesses and diversify how they deliver skills provision, including GAs. Expanding GA frameworks could allow universities to deliver degrees in new ways, and to more people. The Scottish Government must now empower the Funding Council and universities to create new apprenticeships in more flexible and responsive ways. Doing so would be one way for the Government to demonstrate its commitment to delivering the skills the country needs to futureproof its economy and its workforce.