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Higher Apprenticeships In Practice 29 January 2015 Miles Pixley CEng. FIMechE, MIET General Manager: Technical and Professional Development JCB Our higher apprenticeship programme Programme Summary Benefits to our Business • Foundation Degree – Integrated • High calibre candidates Engineering with Sheffield Hallam University • 1 day per week for 2 years • Progression to BEng (Mechanical / Manufacturing) • Further 1 day per week for 2 years • After 1 year equivalent to our undergraduates who have 2 years at university. • Pace of learning enables basic processes and principles to be embedded. • Loyalty How our partnership works Expectations and Arrangements • Delivery flexibility • Visibility of workload / study sequence • Spacing of projects • IT Access for support Benefits and Wider Opportunities for HEIs • Government funding including HEFCE based programmes now supported. • Can enable companies to grow numbers. • Foundation programmes feed to other • Recognised time for access to tutor. • Awareness of software tools • Get to know our business • Accurate and timely invoicing • Deliver elements under direct contract • REGULAR FEEDBACK • Understanding “Responsible Employees” delivery dynamic • Planning cycles / defined owners awards for other needs Delivery Realities Delivery Challenges How These Were Resolved • Matching course content to • Pass levels / grades / business needs • Delivery pattern and location acceptable programmers agreed. • Entry criteria (esp. Maths) • Faster response to new queries • College / University entrance • Sequence defined needs / interview policy • Business expectations • Multiple application forms • Sequence of conditional offer • Visibility of cost model • College / Uni quality owners • Still multiple registrations! • Senior level engagement to resolve issues The Future What is Planned ? • Growth in numbers • • • Further embedding of company Perceptions changed…Managers want case studies (started with x3 graduate demand Hydraulics) Offer of full BEng / MEng from • Modular options for other outset for right candidates established employees to keep up • Local delivery locations important to date • Potential conversion programmes (top up Maths in readiness) • Business approach to cost. (15 students cost to 14 students). Questions Are the challenges the same regardless of subject / discipline? What are perceptions of the “Higher Apprenticeship” brand? Can more open book costing be achieved to create a sustainable model, with true partnership? What cohort sizes are viable business?