Building Pathways for Apprentices progression to higher education, training

1
Building Pathways for Apprentices progression to
higher education, training skills in South
YorkshireJudith SmithDavid E BerryTamsin
Bowers-BrownThe Building Pathways Project
2
Presentation Outline

• Context
• The BP Action Plan
• Project Outcomes
• Research findings
• Conclusion
• Workshop discussion

3
Context

• The Building Pathways Project
• HE-FE partnership
• Aimhigher in South Yorkshire
• Widening Participation to HE of Work-based
  learners
• National policy on skills and vocational
  education
• The Social and Economic needs of South Yorkshire
• Participation in HE in South Yorkshire

4
Widening Participation to HE in South Yorkshire

• Low HE participation across the sub-region
• Building Pathways FE-HE partnership
• vocational learning provision
• work-based learning training providers
• Apprentices progression in SY
• Numbers
• Achievement
• Progression
• Sectors

5
The Apprenticeship Framework

• The Framework
• NVQ
• Key skills
• Technical Certificate
• Work Experience - Employment Roles and
  Responsibilities
• Engineering and Construction Apprentices

6
Building Pathways Project

• Focus on developing progression routes to HE for
  Advanced (Modern) Apprentices
• Develop an understanding of the engineering and
  construction sectors
• Research apprentices own perceptions about HE
• Respond to research findings and develop
  appropriate materials to promote HE
• Develop a database of HE in FE progression
  opportunities

7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
Research

• Conducted interviews with Apprenticeship students
  at Building Pathways partner colleges.
• 44 interviews were conducted with apprentices
• Twelve further interviews were conducted with
  apprentices who had progressed to higher
  education courses (HNC and HND) at the same
  colleges.

10
Identified Barriers to Progression

• Financial Issues
• Perceived Advantages of HE
• Employer Issues
• Apprentice Awareness
• Expectations / Capability
• Employer Caution

11
What do apprentices want?

• Many want to go straight into work
• Some want to progress to HE immediately
• HE is opportunity they may take up later on.
• Many felt that they would earn more in
  non-managerial roles
• Indication they were unsure about funding
• Unsure about taking higher-level skills- relate
  to monetary gain?
• clearer information about fees would help them to
  make a decision on progression

12
finance apprentice opinions

• It depends on the work situation, but if Im
  being paid to train again Ill go for any
  qualifications they offer me
• It is very expensive. I probably would if I have
  chance
• I dont like the idea of being in debt to any
  company whether it is student loan or not. Too
  many people got problems with it

13
finance apprentice opinions

• Im not sure who pays, I thought it were us who
  had to pay for it, Im not right sure. It
  depends, because a lot of people are
  subcontracting now, so if youre subcontracting,
  you have to pay yourself.
• I dont know if itd be day release because Id
  still need money coming in, so thats probably
  the only thing that would do it for me.

14
Employer Lottery
Responses varied greatly depending on the
employer for whom apprentices worked
The employers have signed us up already, me and
two other lads,to do the HNC, starting in
September.   They've allowed me to have flexible
working patterns so I can attend day release
courses, also they've paid for me to complete the
HND so that's been very supportive.   Yes -
they're prepared to support me through the HNC,
and maybe the degree as well. They pushed me to
complete (the apprenticeship) and assisted with
the programme work.
15
Employer Lottery

• I wouldnt mind moving on. Ive had a chat with
  work but they say if they do let me, its going
  to be about three years, but Ill have to sign a
  contract saying Ill stop on for five years, but
  thats only if the bosses let me.
• No, they want you at work earning them money.
  They dont want you studying or doing something
  thats going to lead to you walking out on them
  once youve finished your studying, because
  thats how they see it, you taking their job
• They dont want you to take their jobs, so no,
  they wont support you, they wont pay for it or
  anything. If they found out you had to have a
  day off in the middle of the week theyd
  definitely be like, no way.

16
Promoting opportunities to Progress

• Production of a Multimedia CD Rom

17
Employer Research

• 30 interviews were conducted with local
  engineering and construction employers
• Variable responses to issue of progressing
  Apprentices
• Dependent on requirements for higher level skills
  within the workplace

18
Employer Research

• Employers offers for apprentices varied
• Promotion of idea of progression to HE at
  recruitment
• Pay for course of study
• Time off for study
• Some expressed opinion reflecting those of the
  apprentices
• On the job training only
• Fear that training to higher levels will mean
  they will move away from company

19
Conclusions

• The work of the project team has identified that
  there are many risks for apprentices who want to
  progress to HE
• they may have to give up their job if the
  only HE
• available is in full-time provision
• lack of funding for HE courses
• lack of ambition and support from employers
  and
• training providers
• lack of Information Advice and Guidance
  (IAG)
• lack of clear progression routes
  particularly into
• professionally accredited honours degrees
  without
• having to undertake additional study

20
Conclusions

• Before an increase in numbers progressing
  need to
• have increasing numbers achieving their
  apprenticeship
• Apprenticeship frameworks should provide
  relevant
• technical certificates that support progression
  to HE vary according to sector
• Foundation Degrees should provide
  progression
• routes for Apprentices
• Lifelong Learning Networks ? further
  development
• of APL/APEL, new, flexible modes of
  delivery
• There is a need for clearer tracking
  processes to
• remain engaged with apprentices who defer
  progressing to HE until a later stage of their
  career

21
Workshop Discussion

• How should HE providers be engaging with the WBL
  agenda for young people?
• Why should employers buy into HE progression for
  learners who traditionally are not seeking an
  academic progression route to employment?
• What do employers want from HE- could apprentices
  be the ideal employees and how can HE enhance the
  apprentices profiles
• Is there a tension between the WP agenda and the
  skills strategy?