Higher Education Institutions

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Education – in the Senedd at 2:13 pm on 3 July 2019.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 2:13, 3 July 2019

If I can give the Member a concrete example of how we're doing just that, and that is our degree apprenticeship programme. That degree apprenticeship programme sees individuals based in the company for the vast majority of their time but undertaking some part-time study. That's not the same as thinking that those students just do a normal degree on a part-time basis; the programme that has been developed by the university has been done deliberately in partnership with those businesses that employ the student.

We've just heard a question about Trinity. I've been very fortunate to see for myself some of those involved in the Trinity Saint David digital degree apprenticeship programme—a young woman who decided to go down that route at 18 rather than the more traditional undergraduate programme. And we hope to extend the number of professions that are covered by degree apprenticeships later on this year, focusing especially on digital, engineering and other STEM subjects, thus allowing businesses and universities to work together to deliver a curriculum that truly meets the needs of individuals but also the wider economy.