Towards a sustainable apprenticeship system

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandy Samantha Crawford-Lee
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Critical Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a short overview of current government policy and context to the development of higher and degree apprenticeships and the engagement of higher education (HE) providers in delivery to achieve the ambition of three million apprenticeship starts by 2020. Design/methodology/approach Opinion piece contextualising the UK Government’s approach to apprenticeship reforms and the role of HE and further education in the design and development and delivery of higher and degree apprenticeships. Findings The apprenticeship system is at a critical stage of development and HE providers need to embrace the opportunities and address the competitive challenges of apprenticeship delivery given the £2.5 billion per annum that will be raised by the apprenticeship levy and the threat to their existing and traditional HE provision. Originality/value Reflects the ambition and mission of the University Vocational Awards Council.

Apprenticeships: silver bullet or hard slog?

2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-123
Author(s):  
Martyn Sloman
Keyword(s):  
Government Policy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Training Initiative ◽  
Realistic Assessment ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Silver Bullet

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review apprenticeship policy in the UK and to present examples of good practice. Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes the form of a review of three cases. Findings – Apprenticeships are not an easy option. An apprenticeship scheme, and indeed any training initiative, will not command support within an organisation unless it can be seen to assist the business in economic terms. Context is critical. Practical implications – The paper argues for a more realistic assessment of the role of apprenticeship at the level of government policy and in the organisation. Originality/value – The paper offers a different and more measured perspective on apprenticeships, which contrast with current uncritical hype and over-selling.

Financing universities through waqf, pious endowment: is it possible?

Humanomics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siti Mashitoh Mahamood ◽  
Asmak Ab Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Board Of Trustees ◽  
Academic Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Financing Higher Education ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to highlight the importance of waqf in financing higher education. Nowadays, higher education is costly and this has prevented students, especially those who are self-financed, from accessing such learning environments. This paper offer an alternative solution to relieve such a situation, namely, through the application of an endowment-based or waqf educational institution. The study suggests a way to establish an endowment university by concentrating the discussion on the concept and principles of its establishment, as well as sharing the experiences of the Malaysian waqf universities and the Turkish Foundation Universities/Vakif Üniversitesi in financing their universities using waqf, i.e. a pious endowment instrument. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical data were mainly collected using in-depth interviews with the universities’ higher management authorities and some of the members of the board of trustees. Findings – The findings show that the role of waqf or pious endowment is significant in providing financial assistance to their communities as well as strengthening their academic quality. In addition, tawhidic epistemology together with morality and ethics have influenced waqf donors or founders to donate their wealth and property to enrich and sustain universities and higher education. Originality/value – This article provides the experiences of the Malaysian Waqf Universities and the Turkish Foundation Universities/Vakif Üniversitesi in financing their universities using waqf. It also contains some good examples from the experience of several earlier Islamic civilizations, in particular those of the Ottoman Empire and the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt. In addition, examples of the implementation of waqf and endowment-based universities in the UK and USA as well as the Al-Azhar University of Egypt is also included.

The SMART university: the transformational role of learning analytics

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (12) ◽  
pp. 758-760
Author(s):  
David Jonathan Arwel Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Learning Analytics ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
Short Overview ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Ethnographic Methodology ◽  
The Uk

Purpose This paper aims to answer the following questions: What is the process and policy journey that a university must go through in implementing an effective learning analytics programme? What are the drivers for undertaking such an activity, and who are the stakeholders? Design/methodology/approach The journey of the information, the process or the stakeholder is placed at the heart of the programme, so a primarily ethnographic methodology is appropriate, although ultimately the outcomes of analytics are usually quantitative. Findings In undertaking the journey to a full implementation of an analytics programme, a university must clearly know the strategic driver for starting, and the clear outcomes, if a purposeful path is to travelled. Originality/value As a currently growing area of interest for lots of higher and further education institutions in the UK and worldwide, learning analytics should be high on everyone’s agenda. This viewpoint is intended to provide a short overview to the process and the important strategic drivers.

The role of higher education institutions as employers of apprentices

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 651-657
Author(s):  
Caleb Wright
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The University

PurposeA discussion piece of how apprenticeships can be used by HEIs as employers.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores the current apprenticeship landscape; what HEIs are already doing with apprenticeships; the arguments for using apprenticeships in the sector. There is then a case study on how the University of Birmingham uses apprenticeships before a discussion about future directions.FindingsThe paper reports that although there are a range of advantages for using apprenticeships, HEIs could still use apprenticeships more.Originality/valueThis paper uses a range of sources as detailed in the reference.

scholarly journals The role of the university in accelerated learning and innovation as a regional ecosystem integrator

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Celuch ◽  
Bryan Bourdeau ◽  
Mohammed Khayum ◽  
Leslie Townsend
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Accelerated Learning ◽  
Dynamic Force ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Paired Sample ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present an adaptation of a program that is at the intersection of two dynamic force fields. The first relates to imperatives impinging upon and inherent in higher education. The second ties to the concept of ecosystems as spaces for aligning actors and resources to create value. Design/methodology/approach Tables I-III present pre-test and post-test means and p-values for the paired sample t-tests for the measures. Findings As expected, post-test means are consistently significantly higher (or lower depending on item wording) for a shift in beliefs away from self-censoring and prejudging ideas during ideation and more toward greater openness in the ideation process. Originality/value The paper examines the outcome of an educational program.

scholarly journals Course leadership in small specialist UK higher education – a review

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1174-1183
Author(s):  
Nieky van Veggel ◽  
Philip Howlett
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Education Sector ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Course Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Uk Higher Education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the literature with regard to the course leader in small and specialist higher education in the UK. Design/methodology/approach First, the role of the course leader is explored, followed by an evaluation of the barriers to effective course management. This is then followed by a discussion of mitigating solutions to the barriers identified. Course leadership is then reviewed in the context of small and specialist higher education. Finally, areas for future research are suggested. Findings Course leadership in the UK is a role with wide ranging responsibilities, but is under-appreciated by the higher education sector. Various barriers have been identified, and some solutions proposed, in the literature, but problems remain. Originality/value Course leadership is an underappreciated area with little academic literature available, even though issues have been reported since the 1990s. This paper critically evaluates and summarises the issues, and shows that they are still current. It also proposes solutions and areas of further research so that issues can be resolved for betterment of the higher education sector.

Overconfidence of vocational education students when entering higher education

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark P. Bowden ◽  
Subhash Abhayawansa ◽  
John Bahtsevanoglou
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
First Year ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – There is evidence that students who attend Technical and Further Education (TAFE) prior to entering higher education underperform in their first year of study. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of self-efficacy in understanding the performance of students who completed TAFE in the previous year in a first year subject of microeconomics in a dual sector university in Melbourne, Australia. Design/methodology/approach – The study utilises data collected by surveys of 151 students. Findings – A student’s self-efficacy is positively associated with their marks in a first year subject of microeconomics. However, the relationship between final marks and self-efficacy is negative for those students who attended TAFE in the previous year suggesting that they suffer from the problem of overconfidence. When holding self-efficacy constant, using econometric techniques, TAFE attendance is found to be positively related to final marks. Research limitations/implications – The findings are exploratory (based on a small sample) and lead to a need to conduct cross institutional studies. Practical implications – The research points to the need for early interventions so that TAFE students perform well in their first year of higher education. It also points to potential issues in the development of Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) programs. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to examine the inter-related impact of attendance at TAFE in the previous year and self-efficacy on the subsequent academic performance of TAFE students.

Nine emerging student needs

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Hines ◽  
Alexandra Whittington
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Student Life ◽  
Student Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
World Cafe ◽  
The Future ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A research project exploring emerging student needs explored six aspects of student life: living, learning, working, playing, connecting and participating. Design/methodology/approach A modified version of the University of Houston’s “Framework Foresight” method was used to explore the future of six aspects of future student life. The resulting scenarios were analyzed for their implications, including the use of the World Café technique, and ultimately led to the identification of nine emerging student needs. Findings Nine specific emerging needs of future students could be used strategically by institutions of higher education to guide and inform planning and to generate innovative ideas for university offerings. Specific examples of offerings that would meet the projected future needs are recommended. Research limitations/implications In terms of research limitations, the paper is focused on the needs of students and does not purport to be an exhaustive analysis of all of the issues influencing higher education. It views the future of higher education through the lens of students and their emerging needs. Practical implications The paper is intended for educators, researchers and administrators to provide insight on how the needs of students, their key customers, are evolving. Originality/value This piece explores student life in its totality as way to more accurately identify student needs in the future.

scholarly journals Professional development of sustainability competences in higher education

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 697-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim Lambrechts ◽  
Elli Verhulst ◽  
Sara Rymenams
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Change Process ◽  
Organisational Change ◽  
Constructivist Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Analysis ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The University

Purpose This paper aims to provide insights into the relation between professional development (PD) and organisational change processes towards sustainability, with a specific focus on empowerment. Design/methodology/approach The paper builds upon a constructivist approach, combining a literature review, a desk research on key publications and reports and a socio-political analysis to reveal the specific context in Flanders, Belgium. Findings are then connected to earlier insights from research on organisational change for sustainability. Findings The paper provides a number of PD initiatives that focus on sustainability in general and in a single higher education (HE) institution. Framing such initiatives as an organisational change process offers insights on how elements of empowerment are currently incorporated in PD initiatives and how it can strengthen them to lead to the further integration of sustainability competences in HE. Research limitations/implications Limitations are linked with the kind of sources used in the constructivist approach. The analysis only looks at written reports on the topic, albeit it also builds upon the first-hand experiences of educators in the HE institution focused upon in the case. Practical implications There is a need to frame PD initiatives as an organisational change process towards sustainability with specific attention towards empowerment. Without this framing, PD approaches comprise the risk of being left in the margins or being understood as single initiatives without any connection to the bigger picture, i.e. the transition towards sustainability in HE. Social implications Interlinking PD and organisational change provides opportunities to frame the sustainability transition within the university in a wider societal context. Originality/value The paper provides an original contribution to the debate on sustainability competences, as it frames the PD within an organisational context, rather than focusing on the individual role of educators.

scholarly journals State substitution for the trade union good: the case of paid holiday entitlements

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-23
Author(s):  
John Forth ◽  
Alex Bryson
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Union Wage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Union Wage Premium ◽  
Union Representation ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Statutory Regulation

Purpose The literature on the union wage premium is among the most extensive in labour economics but unions’ effects on other aspects of the wage-effort bargain have received much less attention. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature through a study of the union premium in paid holiday entitlements. Design/methodology/approach The authors examine the size of the union premium on paid holidays over time, with a particular focus on how the premium was affected by the introduction of a statutory right to paid holidays. The data come from nationally representative surveys of employees and workplaces. Findings The authors find that the union premium on paid holidays is substantially larger than the union premium on wages. However, the premium fell with the introduction of a statutory minimum entitlement to paid leave. Originality/value This is the first study to examine explicitly the interaction between union representation and the law in this setting. The findings indicate the difficulties that unions have faced in protecting the most vulnerable employees in the UK labour market. The authors argue that the supplanting of voluntary joint regulation with statutory regulation is symptomatic of a wider decrease in the regulatory role of unions in the UK.

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