Professor Alison Halstead Pro Vice Chancellor Strategic Academic Developments

1. Benefits of employer led education for higher level skills. Foundation Degrees Professor Alison Halstead Pro Vice Chancellor Strategic Academic Developments

2. Format of the session • Context • Government investment • What are Foundation Degrees? • A case study from Aston University • Foundation Degree developments • Creating a University Technical College and employer led School for 14-19 year olds.

3. What is the UK Government doing to invest in higher level skills? • Government recognises the importance of high level technical skills for the growth of the economy • Government, Educators and Employers share a vision of significantly increasing the skills of people in work and young people starting their careers. • Government Funding has been put in to • Apprenticeships 16+ • Foundation Degrees 18+ • University Technical Colleges 14+ but the challenge remains.

4. What is a Foundation Degree? • The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification in higher education, introduced by the UK Government in September 2001. • The Foundation Degree is broadly equivalent to the first two years of a three year BSc/BA/BEng • Foundation degrees focus on a particular job or profession, they were developed to increase the skills of current staff within a profession, or those intending to enter. • Any Foundation Degree must provide access to the final year of a BSc/BA/BEng • Foundation Degrees are available in a wide range of vocational disciplines

5. How are UK Universities responding to this challenge?An example from Aston University Employer informed and supportededucation and skills

6. The City of Birmingham Britain’s second city

7. Aston University • Founded in 1895 a top 15 UK University • Student population: 10,000 (20% International students) • Industry-focused and accredited programmes – 75% with an industrial placement; aiming for 100% by 2020 • Engineering and applied sciences, Life and health sciences, Business and Languages • Top 5 in UK for Graduate Employability

8. Internships and Work Experience - key for graduate employability • All undergraduates to have an internship or work experience by 2020 • Languages for all and 25% of internships overseas • Employability skills all years • 20% join placement employer • Benefits knowledge transfer and research partnerships

9. Developing a Foundation Degree programme with the Electricity Industry at Aston University 2007-to date in partnership with Further Education Colleges

10. Format • Experience developing FD programmes in Electrical Power Engineering (EPE) • Delivery partnerships • Flexibility • Employer-led programmes • Current Status of EPE Programme • Partnership with LLN

11. Background • Aston University track record with Employers • Scottish and Southern, National Grid and E-on asked the University • Proposal – to develop a new Foundation Degree in Electrical Power Engineering with FE colleges • Aston gained £1.6million from Higher Education Funding Council to create a Foundation Degree Centre

12. Foundation Degree Sructure • Flexibility – candidates, partnership, content, delivery • 2 years full time • 1st Year - grounding • 2nd Year – Business Specific • Alternative option of block and/or day release • Employer engagement and lead • Progression to final year of a relevant Bachelor's programme

13. Candidates • School leavers • Mature candidates – existing staff • Advanced Modern Apprentices • First chance to see training progression

14. Programme Content & Delivery • Employer specific (variable to suit transmission, generation or distribution business requirements) • Six modules per level, 20 credits each • Mix of teaching and consolidation (project work and assignments) • Level 1 – HNC derived – FE Partner lead • Level 2 – Aston lead • Delivery: • Day release, block release or mixture • Location • Integration into the workplace

15. Partnership • Employer specific • HE/FE Collaboration – Aston/Walsall/Reading • Distribution Engineering Training Facilities via Company or Third Party • Programme development • Work-based learning • Mentoring and Tutoring

16. First students – three programmes, three FE college partners • Scottish and Southern Group with Reading College (TVU) as FE Partner • 11 students - Feb 2007 • 11 students - Oct 2007 • National Grid with Walsall College • 14 students - April 2007 • 9 students – Oct 2007 • E.ON UK and SPG with Walsall College • 20 students started Oct 2007

17. Expansion and development • New programme developments • SSE - Power Generation • National Grid – Power Systems Management • 9 cohorts – Approx 160 students by November 2008 • New FE partner – Loughborough • Part-time progression to B Eng • Other new developments: • Renewable Energy Technologies • Gas Engineering

18. Growth in Employer led Foundation Degrees

19. University Technical CollegesConcept, Curriculum and Partnerships. A UK Government initiative 2008 on going University and emloyer led schools for 14-19 year olds

20. The challenge and reason for a University deciding to lead the creation of a Engineering Academy for 14-19 year olds. • National and international lack of youth interest in STEM • Huge business imperative – technical skills • University leadership seen as indication of high quality • In December 2007 Aston University were asked to create a University led Technical College for 14-19 year olds

21. What are the benefits? • Unique chance to embed an employer-led engineering curriculum • To raise young peoples aspirations for careers in engineering • To provide clear pathways to apprenticeships, work or education • Professional sharing and development of for teachers, academics, students and industrialists through the partnership, everyone a researcher, CPD, Prof Doc.

22. Aston University Engineering Academy • New Build for September 2012 600 students 14-19 • All students to have industrial learning opportunities and university engineering student mentor • Personalised engineering curriculum • Problem based learning led by industrial partners

23. THE AIM: Development of technically literate students • Development of core engineering skills– All students will complete the Certificate of Engineering in Year 10. • Engineering aspects of projects mapped to Mathematics, Science and English outcomes – everyone knows why? • Business Day ( 8.30 – 5.30) and Business Smart dress • Outstanding teachers – rigorous selection • Staff student ratios 1 to 20pre 16; 1:15 post 16. • Aston University students in engineering, science, and mathsto completetheir placement year in the Academyand act as mentors • Vertical Tutoring – daily meetings and weekly review

24. 14-16 Curriculum • English, Maths and Science (including single sciences) GCSEs • Level 2 Language programme • Blend of academic and vocational Level 2 Engineering qualifications • Industrial work placement linked to project work • Leadership, personal and professional development • Sports through the University

25. An opportunity for mature leaners at 14 with three 16+ routes to work or education • Apprenticeships year 1 £5000, year 2 £7500, year 3 £10,000 with £15,000 job at the end. • Maths and Science A levels • BTEC National and supporting A levels

26. An outstanding employer enabled curriculum Energy futures Solar thermal CHP Wind turbine Solar panels

27. Engineering and Science Engineering maintenance Thermal imaging Sub-station

28. Mathematics

30. What next after the Aston University Engineering Academy? • For students • Work • Work with sponsored foundation degree or degree • University • For staff • Masters and Doctoral research with purpose for practice • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykn5Bs2WZfU&feature=plcp

31. Summary • Context • Government investment • What are Foundation Degrees? • A case study from Aston University • Foundation Degree developments • Creating a University Technical College and employer led School for 14-19 year olds.