Abstract:
The degree apprenticeships programme involves a tripartite agreement involving the
student apprentice, employer and the university. The programme introduced few years
ago in the UK, which now caters to a significant number of apprentices in built
environment related degree programmes. Although the Degree Apprenticeships involve
a significant component of work based learning, limited evidence exist to justify
Chartered Surveying Degree Apprenticeships Standard as a successful work based
learning facilitator, mainly due to the scarcity of research. The findings of this paper are
based on an ongoing research project, therefore is limited to evaluating Degree
Apprenticeships apprentice perception of work based learning. Research method
comprised of a literature review and the inspection of the guidance documents related
to the delivery of the Degree Apprenticeships programme, followed by seven semistructured
interviews with selected degree apprentices. Qualitative data analysis paved
the way for identification of several success areas and the aspects that require further
improvement. Lack of shared understanding among the three parties and the absence of
explicit evidence of implementation of work based learning were noteworthy, and
suggestions for improvement are proposed. Further research involving a wider sample
of apprentices and employers suggested.
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