Purpose: This paper explores the implications for higher education of the rapid development in technology used by the manufacturing sector. Higher education programmes change or new courses are introduced in attempts to match labour market demands. However, the pace of change in the manufacturing industry challenges the authors to reconceive how…

This paper builds on and follows up papers delivered at UALL conferences over the last decade: Critten P (2007); Critten P, Squire P & Leppenwell G (2010); Critten P (2012) and Critten P, Squire P and Locke G (2015). The theme common to them all is the unfolding story of a partnership between business (specifically Consalia Ltd) and Academia…

This account of practice offers an example of the use of action learning within the undergraduate Degree Apprenticeship Curriculum of a UK university, specifically the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. This programme is aimed at an age-diverse group who are supported by their employers through the levy to improve their knowledge, skills and…

GPS Education Partners (GPSEd) is a community-based nonprofit organization and work-based learning intermediary offering a statewide manufacturing youth apprenticeship in Wisconsin. During their one to two years in the program, students meet high school graduation requirements, receive industry-specific and job-specific training, technical…

The IT industry is dynamic and quickly evolving. As a surge of diverse training models across subsectors and occupations is becoming available, this is a unique opportunity to enhance training practices and better align them to meet industry and employer needs. This brief offers recommendations for IT training providers to strengthen their work…

In the business environment, the goal of data analytics can be characterized as improving decision making and its links to big data and other data-driven technologies. In UK higher education, degree apprenticeships are business-led and government-supported nationally recognized qualifications, where delivery is tailored to partner employer…

Over two-thirds of all Illinois residents live in Chicago's metropolitan area. The third largest city in the United States and also the third most economically productive, the Windy City benefits from unrivalled industry diversity. Like any other city, however, Chicago faces the policy challenge of supporting well-paid employment opportunities for…

"Research Messages 2020" highlights the diverse range of research activities undertaken over the past year by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). Research published during 2019 encompasses a range of themes and topics categorised according to three broad areas: (1) structures and systems for skilling and…

Work-based learning provides students an opportunity as aspiring employees to explore careers and to turn theory and simulation into practice by gaining on-the-job experience. The hands-on experience gained from work-based learning opportunities, especially when considered in combination with the attainment and application of employment soft…

"Research Messages 2021" highlights the diverse range of research activities undertaken over the past year by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). In 2021, research was shaped both by the VET (vocational education and training) reform agenda, and issues emerging from the pandemic. The 2021 national VET research…

Australia entered the COVID-19 pandemic with a youth (15 to 24-year-old) unemployment rate of 11.6% in December 2019, three times higher than the 25 to 64-year-old unemployment rate of 3.6%. The strategies taken by governments to minimise the spread of COVID-19 have had widespread economic impacts. By July 2020, youth unemployment had risen to…

Presents a guide for employers as to how they can support young care leavers to gain the skills, experience and confidence they need to gain, stay and progress in work. Describes the challenges faced by care leavers and why employers should support them into work. Outlines the positive aspects for businesses such as creating a diverse workforce,…

This report presents vocational education and training (VET) policy developments in Turkey between 2015 and 2017. It covers all five Europe-wide priority areas or medium-term deliverables (MTDs) agreed at Riga in June 2015: (1) Work-based learning with special focus on apprenticeships; (2) Quality assurance mechanisms in line with European Quality…

This report presents vocational education and training (VET) policy developments in Republic of Serbia (hereinafter Serbia) between 2015 and 2019. It covers all five Europe-wide priority areas or medium-term deliverables (MTDs) agreed at Riga in June 2015: (1) Work-based learning with special focus on apprenticeships; (2) Quality assurance…

This report presents vocational education and training (VET) policy developments in North Macedonia between 2015 and 2019. It covers all five Europe-wide priority areas or medium-term deliverables (MTDs) agreed at Riga in June 2015: (1) Work-based learning with special focus on apprenticeships; (2) Quality assurance mechanisms in line with…