This document discusses Aston University's degree apprenticeship program in digital and technology solutions. It begins with an overview of what a degree apprenticeship is and then discusses Aston's specific program, which allows students to earn a BSc while working full-time. The program includes both technical and business-focused pathways and incorporates both online and in-person learning. It is designed collaboratively with industry partners to provide real-world skills. The document outlines the program structure, delivery approach, and benefits of the program before concluding with next steps for prospective students and employer partners.

1. Degree Apprenticeships
at Aston

2. Outline
What is a Degree Apprenticeship?
Why Choose Aston?
Aston’s Programme
Next Steps

3. Degree Apprenticeships

4. What is a Degree
Apprenticeship?
Government-backed scheme where employers and
universities partner to deliver world class, industrially
relevant education.
Combines higher and vocational education. Students gain
industrial experience and a full Honours Degree.
Expected to have wide application in STEM subjects.
First Degree Apprenticeship in Digital and Technology
Solutions to start in September 2015.

5. BSc Digital and Technology
Solutions
BSc Digital and Technology Solutions framework is
designed by some of the largest employers in the industry
to provide graduates with the specific skills that they
believe are essential.
Aims to address the digital skills gap.
Actively supported by companies including Accenture,
BT, Capgemini, CGI, Ford, Fujitsu, GSK, HMRC, HP, IBM,
John Lewis, Lloyds, Network Rail and Tata Consulting
Services.

6. BSc Digital and Technology
Solutions: Framework Core
Framework core includes:
Foundations of IT Systems
Systems Development
Data Fundamentals
Information and Cyber Security
Business Organisation
IT Project Management
Computer Systems and Networks
Interpersonal Skills

7. BSc Digital and Technology
Solutions: External Validation
BSc Digital and Technology Solutions degrees are endorsed by the
tech-partnership, a network of employers and the skills arm of the
Information Economy Council.
Endorsement shows that degrees:
integrate academic learning at degree level and on-the-job
practical training,
deliver skills which needs of employers now and in the future,
develop professional practice contextualised using industry
standard technologies and approaches.

8. Why Choose a Degree
Apprenticeship?
You will be employed throughout and doing paid work from day
one.
Over 80% of apprentices remain with their employer after
completing their apprenticeship.
You will gain a full BSc (Hons) degree and prepare yourself for a
successful career.
You will gain a head-start in your chosen profession.
You will make yourself an attractive proposition for employers who
see this as a way of recruiting top prospective graduates .

9. Why Choose a Degree
Apprenticeship?
You will:
be capable of making a real contribution to your employer within
a few months of commencing your role,
graduate with five years of applied occupational experience in a
technology solutions environment.
You will gain:
practical computing skills and occupational competence ,
the project, interpersonal and business skills required to operate
successfully as an IT Professional.

10. Why Choose Aston?

11. Why Choose Aston?
Employability
Aston has a track record of producing employable graduates.
“You will struggle to find a university more keenly attuned to the needs of
business and industry.” – The Sunday Times University Guide
…and of taking students from with non-traditional academic
backgrounds.
Willingness to work closely with employers.
Satisfied students: 92% overall satisfaction in CS, 12th nationally.

12. Why Choose Aston?
Track Record
Aston already run 2 work-based
distance learning programmes.
Collaboratively designed by Aston
University and Capgemini.
Progression route from higher
apprenticeship to BSc.
Apprentices very successful so far.

13. Why Choose Aston?
Research Driven Teaching
Aston’s focuses on research with real-world
applications.
The majority of our teaching staff have worked
in or with industry and feed this into their
teaching.
Student’s benefit from cutting-edge research
and industrial case studies in (to name a few):
data mining,
human computer Interaction,
international operations,
geographic information systems,
management consultancy.

14. Why Choose Aston?
Aston Business School
Business modules delivered by Aston Business School
Internationally renowned: among the 1% of business schools
worldwide with triple accreditation.

15. Aston’s Programme

16. One Degree – Two Streams
• Technical Focus
Software
Engineering
• Technical and
Business Focus
Business
Information
Systems

17. Degree Aims
Intellectual development
develop a good understanding of computing and its
applications
Preparation for a worthwhile career
develop skills in computing related to what employers
need
By developing:
knowledge, understanding, know-how, practical
ability, creativity, transferable skills and real world
experience

18. Core Content
Shared Start-up
Block Training: Java and OOP, software engineering, database
systems and web development
Software Engineering
How to think like a programmer: Problem Solving
Practical skills: Thorough grounding in OOP, Data Structures and
Algorithms
Software Engineering
Business Information Systems
Understanding Data: Business Analytics and Data Mining
Managing Data: Advanced Database Systems
Making use of Financial Data: Introduction to Accounting and
Business Economics

19. Relevance and Flexibility
Large portions of the course can be tailored to the student.
Up to 60 credits (25% of the course) of optional modules to allow
students to specialise.
Both streams have major group and individual projects
We are happy to work with employers to tailor projects to:
employers’ needs.
students’ working responsibilities.
Each student has a personal mentor to help:
us to fit coursework to students’ roles,
students to find opportunities to apply their learning in practice.

20. Teaching and Learning
Philosophy
Practical, but soundly based …
principled basis
quality / reliability driven
professional responsibility
In brief, do it right :
know how
know why

21. Programme Structure
The programme contains three stages
These stages correspond to the first, second and final year of an
on-campus degree programme
You must complete one stage before moving to the next.
Each stage takes 18 months

22. Programme Structure
The programme contains three stages
Each stage contains three blocks
A block contains a group of modules that you will be taking
concurrently
During a typical block you will have:
4 days of on-campus time
A 2-day exam period (at the block’s end)
A typical block takes 6 months

23. Programme Structure
The programme contains three stages
Each stage contains three blocks
Each block contains 40 credits worth of modules
A standard module is worth 10 credits
A longer module is worth 20 credits
Your group project is worth 20 credits
Your individual project is worth 30 credits

24. Programme Structure
The programme contains three stages
Each stage contains three blocks
Each block contains 40 credits worth of modules
Each 10 credit module corresponds to 100 learning hours
These are the expected hours necessary to complete the module
In your case, learning hours will be split between:
Consuming content (lectures, tutorials, notes, etc.)
Self-study
On the job experience
For most modules, the split will be roughly equal

25. Programme Structure
The programme contains three stages
Each stage contains three blocks
Each block contains 40 credits worth of modules
Each 10 credit module corresponds to 100 learning hours
After completing the programme, you will have a full BSc (Honours)
degree from Aston
You will have a degree classification…
1st class, Upper 2nd class, etc.

26. Distance Learning
Majority of the course delivered through virtual learning
environment Blackboard.
Lectures recorded for students to watch (and re-watch)
asynchronously.
Supported by other self-study learning objects.
Labs/tutorials/seminars delivered through “virtual classroom”
Blackboard Collaborate.
Scheduled outside normal working hours (currently 8pm)
Often repeated to allow flexible scheduling
Backed by virtual office hours.

27. Face to Face Learning
Distance learning works well for most things, but, some are better in
person, e.g.:
Student presentations/student-led seminars
Paper-based design
Getting to know your mentors/supervisors
Students have 4 days every 6 months of on-campus teaching
2 weekdays and 2 weekend days
Currently split between start and middle of a block

28. Delivery Philosophy
Flexible learning:
Combining work and study is tough!
Giving students flexibility to choose when they study is key to
making it work.
Continuous support:
Students should not be disadvantaged by distance learning.
Need regular communication and personal attention.
Online community:
Learning does not happen in isolation.
Discussion and collaboration give context and are encouraged
throughout.

29. The Outcome
Degrees lead to the award of full
Aston BSc
Active, creative IT professionals
Depth of knowledge

30. Next Steps

31. Next Steps: Aston
Subject to approval, Aston’s programme will open for
applications in mid-2015.
Degree Apprenticeships do not have lower entry
standards.
students will need to satisfy BOTH university and
employer.
We are interested in dedication and potential!
Contact Agnes Varadi to register your interest
Email: a.varadi@aston.ac.uk
Tel: 0121 204 3453

32. Next Steps: Employers
Many employers will be partnering with universities
recruiting directly.
Watch for vacancies to be advertised soon (in some cases,
currently!).
You can get vacancy updates through the Tech
Partnership:
http://www.thetechpartnership.com/degreeapprenticeships

33. Questions now
Contacts:
Programme Administrator
Agnes Varadi (a.varadi@aston.ac.uk)
Course Directors
Victoria Uren (v.uren@aston.ac.uk)
Harry Goldingay (goldinhj@aston.ac.uk)
Head of Computer Science
Ian Nabney (i.t.nabney@aston.ac.uk)
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