DEPARTMENT FOR
INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS News Release (030/009) issued by
COI News Distribution Service. 18 March 2009
Skills Secretary
John Denham today pledged to help apprentices go to university,
and to ensure higher education meets the needs of students who
have come up through a vocational route.
A report published today by the Skills Commission, Progression
into Apprenticeships, praises the Government's progress in
expanding apprenticeships and calls for a greater proportion of
apprentices progressing to higher levels of learning.
Welcoming the Skills Commission's report, Mr Denham said:
"Apprenticeships are valuable in their own right, but I
believe there should be clear progression routes for young people
and adults who complete their apprenticeships and want to go
further - whether that's onto an advanced apprenticeship, a
diploma or a foundation degree and beyond.
"Alongside this, I want universities to offer high-level
vocational courses to meet the needs of students who have come up
through vocational routes. Vocational routes to higher education
are important. But it is also important that vocational training
should continue to higher levels.
"Demand for apprenticeships far outstrips supply and
they're proving increasingly popular with young people and
adults alike. More and more people will reach the threshold of
university education through vocational routes, such as
apprenticeships. Our education system must be able accommodate
those people and help them gain higher levels of skills and qualifications."
The Government affirmed its commitment to incorporating
Apprenticeship frameworks into the UCAS tariff to make it simpler
to go to university after an apprenticeship in its New
Opportunities white paper, published in January.
Currently, apprentices can progress onto a foundation degree - a
work-related qualification developed and delivered jointly by
employers and higher education institutions. Foundation degrees
are rising in popularity: 72,000 students studied for one in
2007/08 and the Government has a target of 100,000 enrolments by 2010.
Over the coming months, ministers will be considering a fresh
form of vocational degree which would benefit learners and
employers alike. Vocational degrees could help more people get the
high-level skills they need to pursue a rewarding career and could
address particular skills gaps in industry.
The Skills Commission report published today also recommends
clearer mapping between diplomas and apprenticeships, so that
people studying diplomas know precisely when and where they have
acquired a qualification that is also part of an apprenticeship
and what further qualifications they would need to complete the apprenticeship.
Mr Denham reaffirmed that young people completing a diploma would
have clear progression routes into apprenticeships, and that, from
2013, learners in England will have entitlements to both
apprenticeships and diplomas.
Mr Denham said:
"We are making good progress on supporting progression from
diplomas to apprenticeships. We will make sure the links between
apprenticeships and diplomas are clear and understandable to
learners and their parents, as well as to employers and
apprenticeship training providers."
The Skills Commission report also called for a clearer definition
of programme-led apprenticeships, courses which involve an
apprentice studying full time at a college or training provider
without necessarily having an employer.
DIUS and DSCF will respond in full to each of the Skills
Commission's recommendations in the summer.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Government's higher level skills strategy will be
published in April 2009.
2. The Government is committed to expanding Higher Education.
Funding is now 24% higher than it was in 1997 while student
applications are up nearly 8% from last year.
3. The New Opportunities white paper, published in January 2009,
can be found at http://www.hmg.gov.uk/newopportunities.aspx
4. Foundation degrees provide a good entry point to higher
education for those learners who have been studying vocational
qualifications and are popular with employers such as Rolls-Royce
and Tesco, who introduce foundation degree modules before their
advanced apprenticeships are completed.
The consultation on the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards
in England, which is open until 29 May, can be found at: http://www.dius.gov.uk/consultations/sase.aspx