Discover and share good practice for smarter working universities

Degree apprenticeships

What degree apprenticeships can do for you

This year sees the introduction of the apprenticeship levy which will help fund degree apprenticeships. As Elena Magrini of Universities UK explains, this is a great opportunity for universities to put themselves at the forefront of degree apprenticeship provision.
Jennifer Gane and John Wiseman

Eureka! Classicist finds solution in degree apprenticeship

Some graduates find themselves unsuited to the fast-changing world of employment despite impeccable qualifications. Degree apprenticeships can be a good way to provide the skills needed in the workforce. Classics graduate Jennifer Gane found that by landing a degree apprenticeship in digital technology solutions she was able to link a dead language, to one that's very much alive - and find a job.

Harnessing attendance data to drive better experiences of learning

Nick Moore is director of IT services at the University of Gloucestershire. In this post, and at Inside Government’s conference this week on utilising data effectively across higher education, he describes how his university is using attendance data to inform decisions on tailoring services to meet the needs of individual students
©Jisc and Matt Lincoln, CC BY-NC-ND.

Universities challenged to make the most of their space

Every element of space in universities needs to be challenged, an expert in designing spaces for learning told Jisc Digifest on Wednesday. In his keynote speech to the event in Birmingham, University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s professor of practice Andrew Harrison said that across the sector, expensive facilities are being minimised.
Sue Rigby

Sue Rigby: HE leaders need the capacity to simplify

High student satisfaction levels helped the University of Lincoln to secure a gold award in the 2017 Teaching Excellence Framework. Sue Rigby, Lincoln's deputy vice chancellor for student development, explains how encouraging staff to come up with their own solutions to problems is inspiring innovation.
The ALT conference. Photo credit : Chris Bull CC-BY-NC-SA ALT https://flic.kr/p/yuDXkn

Connect, collaborate and create with the Association for Learning Technology

September sees the return of the ALT Annual Conference for its 23rd year. Martin Hawksey explains some of the hot issues preoccupying the minds of delegates and looks forward to this year’s event, organised by the UK's leading membership organisation in the learning technology field.

How lean can nurture the relationship between educators and students

At the University of Winchester, academics are working with professional services to improve the student and staff experience. Dr Tammi Sinha, one of the academics in the HE continuous improvement unit, describes the benefits of lean approaches from the perspective of an educator.
BMW Werk Leipzig. Original uploader was Torsten.heise at de.wikipedia

Eight lessons from the private sector for universities investing in technology-enhanced learning

Universities are increasingly investing in technology-enhanced learning, but education consultant Peter Chatterton writes that to get the maximum benefit from this investment, they should learn from experiences beyond the sector.
Ducklings with their mother

How degree apprenticeships can fill regional skills gaps

The government's target of three million apprenticeships before 2020 presents an opportunity for businesses to develop their workforces to deliver creativity, innovation and growth. Sarah Tudor of Staffordshire University explains why it is using apprenticeships to bridge the region's skills gaps.

The rise of the new academic advisor

Could the advent of the TEF see the emergence of a new breed of data-empowered academic advisors? Student experience consultant Brian Hipkin says the growth in student-generated ‘teaching excellence’ metrics could herald the introduction of this role.