Degree Apprenticeship in Digital & Technology Solutions at Aston

1. Degree Apprenticeship in Digital & Technology Solutions at Aston Dr Victoria Uren v.uren@aston.ac.uk

2. “Degree Apprenticeships are transforming the way in which young people learn. They enable people to receive a degree, awarded by world-class universities that will be held in equal esteem as a traditional full-time undergraduate route – but with the chance to earn from day one.” Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service “It’s a really good opportunity to progress your career and achieve a degree without having to pay out vast sums like normal students. That being said, it’s hard work and will be a challenge, but the rewards and the outcome after [...] years hard work outweigh those challenges by far.” Gregory Wolverson, Capgemini, enrolled on the BSc Computer Software Development degree

3. The Outcome • Degrees lead to the award of full Aston BSc • Active, creative IT professionals • Depth of knowledge

4. Outline • Developing a pathway to a degree for Higher Apprentices • Delivering degree-level teaching and assessment in the workplace • Supporting and mentoring students in collaboration with employers

5. Filling the Digital Skills Gap • Economic growth is being put at risk due to skills gaps in the tech workforce, with 72% of large companies and 49% of smaller companies reporting gaps between the skills held and the skills needed by their tech specialists. • Employers also reported significant problems in recruitment, with 42% of those recruiting tech specialists constrained by 'hard to fill' vacancies. Source Employer Insights: Skills Survey 2015

6. Designing the Solution • Government’s proposed solution: a work-based degree to better prepare young people for the workforce. • A task force set up in September 2014 led by the Tech Partnership involving industry and academics • Past successes: • ITMB – 1,200 students in total; 5% unemployment; 75% with a First or 2:1 compared to 51% in other computing degrees • Higher Apprenticeships – at level 4 (equivalent to first year university); 1,000 students in total. Six Trailblazer standards defined and approved.

7. Degree Pathway for HAs • 2 work-based distance learning programmes, launched in April 2014. • Collaboratively designed by Aston University and Capgemini. • Progression route from higher apprenticeship to BSc. • Established programme extended to include Stage 1 (Level 4) • i.e. the entire degree as an integrated unit • Recruiting for September 2015

8. Why Choose a Degree Apprenticeship? • Graduates will gain a full BSc (Hons) degree and prepare for a successful career. • Students will be employed throughout and doing paid work from day one. • Over 80% of apprentices remain with their employer after completing their apprenticeship. • Students are an attractive proposition for employers who see this as a way of recruiting top prospective graduates. • Gain a head-start in their chosen profession.

9. Why Choose a Degree Apprenticeship? • Students will: • be capable of making a real contribution within a few months, • graduate with five years of applied occupational experience in a technology solutions environment. • Students will gain: • practical computing skills and occupational competence , • the project, interpersonal and business skills required to operate successfully as an IT Professional.

10. One Degree – Two Streams Digital and Technology Solutions

11. What Students will learn • Shared Start-up • Block Training: Java and OOP, software engineering, database systems and web development • Software Engineering • How to think like a programmer: Problem Solving • Practical skills: Thorough grounding in OOP (through Java Program Construction), Data Structures and Algorithms • Software Engineering • Business Information Systems • Understanding Data: Business Analytics and Data Mining • Managing Data: Advanced Database Systems • Making use of Financial Data: Introduction to Accounting and Business Economics

12. Relevance and Flexibility • Large portions of the course can be tailored to the student. • Up to 60 credits (25% of the course) of optional modulesto allow students to specialise. • Both streams have major group and individual projects • We are happy to work with employers to tailor projects to: • employers’ needs. • students’ working responsibilities. • Each student has a personal mentor to help: • us to fit coursework to students’ roles, • students to find opportunities to apply their learning in practice.

13. How Students will learn

14. Distance Learning • Majority of the course delivered through virtual learning environmentBlackboard. • Lectures recorded for students to watch (and re-watch) asynchronously. • Supported by other self-study learning objects. • Labs/tutorials/seminars delivered through “virtual classroom” Blackboard Collaborate. • Scheduled outside normal working hours (currently 8pm) • Often repeated to allow flexible scheduling • Backed by virtual office hours.

15. Benefits of Distance Learning • Flexible about when much content is consumed. • No time wasted in travelling to a central location • releases employers from need for a local supplier • Less disruption to business than block release • Students can revise & repeat recorded material

16. Advantages of an Existing Programme • We already have a viable cohort in-place: • More students means more flexibility of module choice • Depth and breadth of experience: • Interaction with other companies’ undergraduates adds context • Assurance: • Based closely on existing programmes endorsed by e-skills and the BCS. • Ready-to-go!

17. The Model Student • Resilient with ‘stickability’ • Inquisitive • Responsible • Strong work ethic • Like Problem-solving • Completer finisher • Eye for detail • Motivation to drive their own learning • Good at teamworking

18. Recruitment • Students must be sponsored by their employer • Therefore need to match Aston & Employer criteria • These will include Situational Strengths Tests as well as exam grades • Some employers e.g. Capgemini have their own recruitment programmes • SMEs can work with Aston to find the right student

19. Summary • 2 streams for IT-oriented junior talent • Software Engineering for those focusing on technical computing. • Business Information Systemsfor those in more business oriented roles. • Work-based blended learning: • Majority distance learning designed to suit those in work • Commitment to work with employers to ensure programmes deliver the right skills.

20. Questions? Contacts: • Dr. Harry Goldingay(Programme Director Computer Science) • Email: goldinhj@aston.ac.uk • Tel: 0121 204 3918 • Prof. Ian Nabney (Head of Computer Science): • Email: i.t.nabney@aston.ac.uk • Tel: 0121 204 3645 • Dr Victoria Uren (Programme Director Business School) • Email:v.uren@aston.ac.uk • Tel: 0121 204 3707