The Westminster government has?asked the English regulator to establish a ¡°competitive degree apprenticeship development fund¡±,?worth up to ?40?million.

In a ?(OfS) setting out how it should deploy the Strategic Priorities Grant, to be increased by ?57 million in 2023-24, secretary of state for education Gillian Keegan outlined the government¡¯s funding priorities for the year ahead,?saying it was ¡°now more important than ever for students to pursue HE studies which are in their own best interest, and that of the wider economy¡±.

On degree apprenticeships, Ms Keegan said the government wanted to ensure that a wider group of people can ¡°access their unique benefits¡±.

The ?40 million fund will be allocated to fund capacity-building projects across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years.

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The OfS ¡°should use this funding to support projects with the greatest potential to diversify growth at L6, by supporting providers to deliver degree apprenticeship provision for the first time; support existing providers to deliver a wider range of provision; and improve access to degree apprenticeships,¡± said Ms Keegan.

She said the funding represents a ¡°significant uplift¡± on last year but warned projects must demonstrate strong progress against their aims to receive ongoing support.

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Vanessa Wilson, chief executive of the University Alliance group of universities, said the scale of the funding provides an ¡°exciting opportunity to meet the challenge of expanding access to degree apprenticeships¡±.

¡°Degree apprenticeships are increasingly one of the most popular and competitive higher education options, and rightly so,¡± she said.

¡°They offer people of all ages the opportunity to get a fee-free degree-level qualification, earn while they learn, and set themselves up for an exciting career. For employers, they help deliver the highly skilled people they need.

¡°To meet the rising demand for degree apprenticeships, there is a need to quickly and significantly scale up the number and variety of degree apprenticeships on offer,¡± she added.

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The government has recently announced that apprenticeships will be showcased alongside traditional degrees by Ucas, to put vocational routes into careers on an ¡°equal footing¡±.

Ms Keegan also said in her letter that the courses students ¡°undertake should give them the skills they need to secure gainful employment, supporting a high-wage high-skill economy¡±.

The letter also told the OfS to continue to prioritise funding of high-cost subjects that support strategically important subjects, and to maintain funding for world-leading specialist providers to a maximum of ?58 million in funding.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com