Development and Delivery of Innovative Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Programmes in Collaboration with Industry

Abstract

Work Based Learning (WBL) programmes such as Degree Apprenticeships (DAs) have the potential to widen participation in Higher Education and transform lives, while also supplying the engineering industry with high calibre workforce that are committed, knowledgeable, skilled, and professional. In 2019, Aston University’s Professional Engineering Centre (APEC) developed a suite of level 6 BEng Professional Engineering DA programmes in line with three existing DA standards and in collaboration with major UK manufacturing companies. The curriculum was designed to be flexible and responsive to employers’ needs while ensuring academic and professional development of apprentices aligned with the Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviour (KSB) requirements of the DA standards. This work details our approach in working with employers to develop effective, efficient, and flexible curricula for three DA Programmes launched in January 2020. The case study also outlines the student support measures put in place as part of the successful delivery of this programme to ensure simultaneous academic and professional growth of the apprentices while ensuring compliance with the KSB and the End Point Assessment (EPA) requirements of the DA standards. The success of the programmes in meeting the needs of over 70 apprentices and 15 employers since January 2020 while meeting the rigorous academic and regulatory requirements of such programmes is appraised using feedback from the University validation panel, employer feedback, and apprentices’ feedback from Module Evaluation Questionnaires (MEQs) scores and comments, tripartite review meetings, and programme committee meetings.