Robert Gordon University (RGU), a pioneer of work-based learning degrees, has been awarded £4.2m by Skills Development Scotland to significantly expand the range of courses on offer and the number of places available.
In March 2017 RGU became the first university in Scotland to confirm its Graduate Level Apprenticeships (GLAs) offering with 30 fully-funded places available on two courses, BSc (Hons) IT Management for Business and BSc (Hons) Software Development for Business.
This latest award will see RGU deliver 135 additional fully-funded GLAs, in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, and with support from the European Social Fund, spread across a range of disciplines in construction, engineering, business management and IT.
GLAs enable participants to earn their degree while working and are delivered in partnership with their employers over the course of four years.
The two courses offered in 2017, which were run by the university’s School of Computing Science and Digital Media, were selected to address the national digital skills shortage.
A range of businesses and organisations including local authorities from across Scotland signed collaboration agreements with RGU to deliver the GLAs to employees.
RGU principal professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski said: “Having pioneered the GLA programme in 2017, this latest award ensures that we are one of the largest providers of GLAs in Scotland.
“As a university, we already work very closely with industry to ensure that our graduates meet the requirements of the job market. Work-based learning represents an innovative approach to teaching and learning which supports the education and ongoing development of employees to ensure they acquire the skills required to progress in their chosen career paths.”
Skills Development Scotland, director of service design and Innovation, Jonathan Clark, added: “Graduate Apprenticeships have the potential to transform the way that young people access further and higher education, and it’s clear from the demand that many companies and Universities feel the same way.
“Graduate Apprentices will be employed during their studies and because much of the learning takes place in the workplace they will have the opportunity to immediately apply what they learn at college or university in their jobs – and vice versa.
“This provides opportunities for employers to help shape the skills of their employees and to address skills shortages affecting their industry and the local economy.”
The breakdown of places for the 2018 GLA programme, which will start in September 2018, is: BSc (Hons) Construction: Built Environment (15 places); BSc (Hons) Engineering: Design and Manufacture (25); BSc (Hons) Engineering: Instrumentation, Measurement and Control (25); BSc (Hons) Business Management: Financial Services (20); BSc (Hons) Business Management (20); BSc (Hons) IT Management for Business (15); BSc (Hons) Software Development for Business (15).
Employers interested in finding out more should contact the GLA recruitment team on GLAemployer@rgu.ac.uk.