1. Higher Apprenticeship: a policy update and operational analysis
Adrian Anderson, CEO, UVAC

2. UVAC – Our Role
Commissioned to support BIS/National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) on the Consultation on the Criteria for Apprenticeship at Degree levels
Advised BIS/NAS on the Revision to the Specification of Apprenticeships Standards in England (SASE)
Co-authored – Developing Quality Higher Apprenticeship Frameworks for England – the guidance that underpins SASE
Supported the development of the first Higher Apprenticeship to incorporate a Foundation degree to recognise both the knowledge and competence requirements of the framework
Supporting several Trailblazers to engage HEIs and HEIs to develop Apprenticeship strategies
Currently - Asked by BIS to Support ‘Provider Readiness’ for the Apprenticeship Reforms (with AoC and AELP)

3. Apprenticeship/Higher Apprenticeship – Recent Timeline
Summer Prime Minister announces Higher Apprenticeship Fund to support development of Higher Apprenticeship frameworks
November Richard Review published (remit includes Higher Apprenticeship)
April Specification of Apprenticeship Frameworks in England revised to encompass Level 6 and 7 and HE qualifications at these levels
October 2013 – Prime Minister announces Apprenticeship reforms and first Trailblazers
Autumn Statement 2013 – £40m to fund 20,000 Higher Apprenticeship starts over 2 years
March First round Trailblazer Apprenticeship standards published – and further Trailblazers announced
Budget 2014 – announced Government would fund HE within Higher Apprenticeships and provided £20m additional funding for HE within Higher Apprenticeships over 2 years
May 2014 –Trailblazer funding model announced for 2014/15 starts
August Second round Trailblazer Apprenticeship standards published
September First Apprenticeship starts using new standards
November 2014 – Government announces new level 6 and 7 model where degree and apprenticeship are fully integrated
2017/18 - All new Apprenticeship starts to be on standards

4. The Norm not the Niche
‘’..making higher apprenticeships the norm rather than a niche in the overall skills programme – making it as plausible to complete a degree via an apprenticeship as to go to university for 3 years. This is a huge opportunity for universities, who think of their customers in terms of employers as well as individuals. Doing so can attract significant investment, as well as Introducing cutting-edge practice into their degree programmes…”
Vince Cable, Cambridge Public Policy Lecture on the Future for HE & FE, April 2014

5. Post the 2015 General Election
Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats - Innovative new alternatives to traditional bachelors and masters programmes
Labour - Technical degrees, Institutes of Technical Education, Technical universities

6. Apprenticeship Frameworks
Apprenticeship frameworks were developed in accordance with the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards in England
SASE specified minimum credit values (90 at level 4/5 and 120 at level 6/7)
HE, FE and Professional Qualifications could be specified as the knowledge, competence or knowledge and competence qualification
Around 50 Higher Apprenticeship frameworks available
For details of frameworks see
No new Higher Apprenticeship frameworks will be approved post August 2014

7. Apprenticeship Standards – Proportion at Different Levels – August 2014
Total %

8. Apprenticeship Standards at HE Level (1)
Professional Accounting Technician – level 4
Professional Accountant – level 6
Actuarial Technician – level 4
Automotive Control/Technical Support Engineer – level 6
Automotive Electrical/Electronic Technical Support Engineer – level 6
Automotive Manufacturing Engineer – level 6
Automotive Product Design and Development Engineer – level 6
Construction Technician – level 4
Conveyancing Technician – level 4
Licensed Conveyancer – level 6
For Apprenticeship standards, employer involved etc. see - apprenticeship.org.uk/standards

9. Apprenticeship Standards at HE Level (2)
Dental Technician – level 5
Dental Practice Manager – level 4
Software Developer – level 4
Network Engineer – level 4
Software Tester – level 4
Cyber Intrusion Analyst – level 4
Digital Media Technology Practitioner – level 4
Relationship Manager (Banking) – level 6
Senior Chef: Culinary Arts – level 4
Chartered Legal Executive – level 6
Solicitor – level 7
For Apprenticeship standards, employer involved etc. see - apprenticeship.org.uk/standards

10. Apprenticeship Standards (in development) potentially at HE level
Adult Social Care Worker
Senior Adult Social Care Worker
Construction Manager
Digital Industries: Business Data, IT Practitioner, Unified Communications
Financial Services: Investment Operations, Paraplanner, Workplace Pensions
Travel Manager
Life and Industrial Sciences
Nurse
And trailblazer 3 announcements

11. HE Qualifications and Apprenticeship Standards
When a qualification is specified in the standard, employers must use this qualification - outside this, employers and providers can agree their preferred route to achieving the learning/competency set out in the standard and assessment strategy
The content level including any qualifications included or chosen would reflect the level assigned to the standard

12. Apprenticeship – Issues for HE and HE in FE (1)
Shift in Apprenticeship focus from predominately level 2 and 3 to level 3 and HE levels
Apprenticeship is moving into core HE vocational territory
The employer is in the ‘driving seat’ as the ‘standard setter’, customer and actual purchaser of learning and accreditation
The employer as customer vis-à-vis the individual, transferable skills and progression/social mobility
New funding system supports the use of prescribed HE qualifications (and other provision)

13. Apprenticeship – Issues for HE and HE in FE (cont.)
Apprenticeship an ‘alternative’ to existing HE provision
Apprenticeship ‘provision’ focused on those in work and achieving the skills, knowledge and behaviours set out in the Apprenticeship standard and assessment plan
Competition and opportunities for collaboration with FECs, Awarding Organisations, Professional Bodies to deliver learning and accreditation to meet the requirements of a ‘national’ Apprenticeship standard
Growing importance of technician levels 4 and 5 (areas of recent decline in HEI provision)
Change often results in winners and losers – responsiveness to employer demand will be key

14. New Models of HE Delivery and New Entrants to the ‘Skills System’
The new approach to Apprenticeship signifies some key developments in the overall ‘skills system’ in particular:
An emphasis on employer leadership and control
New programmes and models of delivery based on employer demand as alternatives to full-time three year bachelor degrees
An opening up of the market and encouragement for new providers to enter the market on the basis of employer demand
Some breakdown in the divides between HE, FE and private training providers
Growing importance in policy on technician levels 4 and 5
The emphasis placed on LEPs is growing
Interest in exploring how employers should make a greater contribution to the cost of HE provision.
In terms of what this means for the overall approach to the ‘skills system’ and HE:
There’s far more emphasis on employer leadership and control
Interest in new programmes as alternatives to ‘traditional’ full-time three year Bachelor degrees
Opening up of the market and a movement to break down the divide between HE, FE and private training providers and interest in new types of deliverers and institutions
LEP influence is growing
SSC supporting not necessarily leading
An interest in exploring how employers should make a greater contribution to the cost of HE provision
Growing emphasis on the ‘technician’ level 4 and 5 skills agenda

15. An HEI Partnership Approach to Apprenticeship – A Way Forward
Start with employers, employer demand and work with partners
Explore SFA support for prescribed HE qualifications in Higher Apprenticeship frameworks– be aware of the changeover from Apprenticeship frameworks to standards
Identify Apprenticeship Trailblazer occupations with which a university/partners have synergy and where employer interest is or may be apparent
Liaise with Apprenticeship Trailblazers - use UVAC as an ‘introducer’
Raise Apprenticeship with HEFCE at a regional level
Liaise at a LEP level re. Apprenticeship frameworks and standards
Monitor the approaches of other HEIs and Awarding Organisations, Professional Bodies, FE and private providers

16. An HEI Partnership Approach to Apprenticeship – Some More Help
A UVAC step by step approach for HEIs and partners on how to engage with Apprenticeship – Jan/Feb 2015
Apprenticeship frameworks, Apprenticeship standards, assessment plans, funding, partnerships, progression, professional registration, assessment, accreditation, certification, case studies etc.
HEI and partner briefings
Policy updates, alerts to Trailblazer briefing events etc.