Foundation Degree Opportunities

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Foundation Degree Opportunities   Tony
Donajgrodzki Regional Director North West fdf  
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Outline

• A new kind of degree
• Foundation Degrees in the North West
• Opportunities

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Background to Fds

• Introduced in 2000 first programmes enrolled
  students in 2001.
• Through Fds, HE providers and employers enable
  students to develop the higher-level skills
• The Fd is an Intermediate level HE qualification
• Fds are defined by eight characteristics

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How are Fds Different?

• Eight characteristics
• Integration of academic and work-based learning
• Application of skills/knowledge in the workplace
• Employer involvement
• Widening access/participation in HE studies
• Guaranteed articulation to an honours programme
• Preparation for life-long learning
• Flexibility in admission, attendance, employment
  patterns and progression
• Partnership arrangements (providers, employers,
  SSCs and professional bodies)

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Employer engagement

• Employer panels
• Regular liaison with programme team
• Breakfast meetings with providers
• Existing work with same employers/sector
• Live briefs
• Guest lectures
• Case studies
• Sharing equipment
• Providers of WBL
• Member of programme committee
• Assistance with annual monitoring

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Work-based learning (I)

• Students may be in relevant employment
• Students may not be in relevant employment
• WBL must be integrated and appropriate for mode
  of study, not a bolt on
• WBL should not be all simulated
• Real case studies/live problems can illustrate
  theory/practice links

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Work-based learning (II)

• Employers need to be involved in development and
  implementation
• Employers need information about the programme
  and their role
• Larger firms can provide WBL mentors
• Mentors need guidance and support
• Three-way learning agreements helpful
• Students can solve business problems
• Distinguish between doing the job and learning
  through work

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Fd Take up

• In 2006-07 there were 60,925 Fd students on some
  2,500 programmes.
• Governments target for 2010 is 100,000 students
• Increasing in number especially to support
  professional level activity
• Majority of students are in work (CPD type
  approach)
• Majority of students are over 21

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About the students (HEFCE Review 2006)

• 76 of students on programme are satisfied.
• Achievement rates are good and progression rates
  to honours (and subsequent success) very
  encouraging
• Majority of students are over 21 and female. Fds
  attract a higher proportion of students from low
  participating neighbourhoods
• Large number of students are in work with some
  employer support to study
• Planned growth in overall Fd numbers has been
  exceeded

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Who are the Students?

• Some Student Motivations
• Career development in the workplace
• Retraining for a new career
• Gaining relevant skills
• Meeting a new industry need

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Foundation Degrees in the North West
36 of Foundation degrees in the North West meet
the regional skills priorities. Over 9000
students in 2006/7
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Three new Degrees in the North West

• Media and Creative Business
• Financial Services and Law
• Nuclear related Technology Science and Process

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FDSc Nuclear Related Technology Science
Process

• Nuclear Skills study (2002) showed demand for
  Control Instrumentation Engineers Technicians
  
• The Sellafield skills strategy highlighted
  commissioning, control and process.
• UCLan led the development of Fd in Nuclear
  Related Technology with a three separate routes
  (Science Process, Instrumentation Control
  Systems and Commissioning Maintenance).
• Development funded by HLSP, involving industrial
  and academic collaboration (including FE
  colleges)
• Science Process commenced in January 2008 as a
  part-time route with a cohort at Sellafield Sites
  Ltd, delivered by GEN II, a private training
  provider, on a day-release basis.  
• Further two routes Instrumentation Control
  Systems and Commissioning Maintenance currently
  undergoing the validation process with UCLan

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FdA Financial Services Law

• Employer demand-led course
• Blended Learning
• Employer contribution 29K and growing
• Employer commitment Teaching, Mentoring
• CII qualification embedded

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and a satisfied customer.

• Deborah Turner from Clearwater Financial
  Planning.
• Work based learning approach complements my
  business.
• Part time course allows me to study and run a
  busy IFA Practice.
• The course is relevant to my work provides
  an academic perspective to complement my
  professional qualifications practical
  application.

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Media and Creative Business

• Skills gaps and shortages identified in all
  Creative Industries
• Massive growth opportunities
• Research showed both business and creative skills
  required
• Industry-led work-based structure
• Part of a suite of workplace HLS options

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Opportunities

• From employer engagement to workforce
  development
• The growing Union role in the HLS agenda
• MOU of UnionLearn and fdf
• Practical opportunities older workforce,
  upskilling to maintain jobs, tackling
  underachievement

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Contacts

• Tony Donajgrodzki, Regional Director, fdf, c/o
  HLSP, NWUA, Albert House, 17 Bloom St, Manchester
  M1 3HZ
• Tel [phone]
• Email a.p.donajgrodzki_at_fdf.ac.uk
• Kate Fletcher (k.fletcher_at_fdf.ac.uk) to get on
  our mailing list