MK:U has successfully secured £388,000 in funding from the Office of Students (OfS) to further develop its degree apprenticeship programmes. The investment supports the Supply Chain Management degree apprenticeship and will also establish a further degree apprenticeship in Project Management.
“With our close links to businesses we know the demand is there for degree apprenticeships to upskill employees and support future growth,” commented Professor Lynette Ryals OBE, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Cranfield University and Chief Executive of MK:U. “This funding is a real boost to MK:U and will help us to drive higher level skills in our region.”
Degree apprenticeships are a route to obtaining a qualification while gaining relevant work experience, with all of MK:U’s students supported by their employers to learn alongside their jobs.
“The flexibility of degree apprenticeships and the blended model of learning at MK:U means we can open up access to university-level education,” continued Professor Ryals. “Many of our students might not have considered a university-level education before, and it’s amazing to see how they progress personally and in their careers with new skills and confidence.”
The investment is part of a £14 million funding package for degree apprenticeships from the Office for Students, which aims to increase the number of high quality apprenticeships. MK:U was awarded £100,000 in the first wave of funding which was announced in January 2024.
The new Project Management degree apprenticeship adds to MK:U’s portfolio of technical apprenticeships in digital technology, data science, management and cyber security.
MK:U is on track to have over 400 students taught from city centre locations by mid-2024, applying new skills in the workplace as they learn. MK:U also operates a successful business innovation hub where 800 local business owners, educators and innovators collaborate and develop ideas.
