New engineering courses drive Degree Apprenticeships forward

The University of Wolverhampton has announced validation of two new Engineering Degree Apprenticeships.

The Manufacturing Engineer and Product and Development Engineer Degree Apprenticeships (Bachelor of Engineering with Honours Degrees) are available in the School of Engineering at Telford Innovation Campus with the next intake taking place in September 2018.

The new Degree Apprenticeships have been designed and developed in collaboration with employers and professional bodies.

The course is three to four years and students spend one day a week at the University with timetabled access to classrooms, lecture theatres, laboratories and workshops. There will also be occasional industrial visits and trips, practical activities, with further time committed to support Apprentices in the workplace.

Dr Syed Hassan, Head of the School of Engineering, said: “The University is a committed driving force behind economic growth in the engineering and manufacturing sector in the region.

“These new Degree Apprenticeships have the potential to help fill identified regional skills gaps in engineering companies of all sizes whilst at the same time meeting employers’ needs to improve levels of knowledge, understanding and skills within their workforce.”

Having been awarded £250,000 funding from the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) in 2017 to develop its Apprenticeship offer, over 150 apprentices are already studying for Higher and Degree level qualifications at the University.

The University of Wolverhampton has also secured an additional £460k funding to deliver training for Degree Apprenticeships to non-levy paying companies.

The allocation of money was approved by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) recently and means that the University can widen its support for local businesses looking to upskill their workforce.

The University, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Universities, offers Higher and Degree Apprenticeships in Chartered Management (CMDA), Higher Apprenticeship in Construction Management with pathways for Civil Engineering & Built Environment, Chartered Surveying, Chartered Legal Executive, Nursing Associate and Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeships.

Future Higher/Degree Apprenticeships will include Digital Technologies, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Policing, Social Work, Nursing and Paramedic Degree Apprenticeships.

Employers should contact the Apprenticeship Hub for more information on Degree Apprenticeships.

ENDS