BAE Systemshas partnered with Cranfield University to boost Britain’s engineering skills through a new postgraduate engineering apprenticeship programme designed to give learners a valuable Masters-level qualification (
www.baesystems.com).
The company’s first cohort of 76 engineers started the academic element of their level 7 apprenticeship programme early last month, undertaking modules — including design-driven innovation, operations management and cost engineering — that will be carried out alongside the graduate engineers’ day-to-day roles within the business.
Teaching is being delivered entirely on-line, through a combination of interactive video sessions with Cranfield’s academics and remote learning platforms, to provide the flexibility to study without taking time out from work.
On successful completion, the apprentices will obtain a Post-Graduate Diploma in Engineering Competence — a key step towards reaching Chartered Engineering (CEng) accreditation.
Further to the post-graduate apprentices, the defence company recruited just under 600 apprentices for its wider apprenticeships schemes in 2017; it also reported record numbers of both female apprentices and apprentices with disabilities — making up 27% and 15% of recruits respectively.
Furthermore, 18% of recruits came from “the most socially deprived areas” of the UK.
Richard Hamer, director of Education and Skills at BAE Systems, said: “We’re excited to be the trailblazer for this new qualification, and we’re delighted that our graduate engineers are able to partner with such a prestigious institution as Cranfield.
“As part of our on-going commitment to nurturing talent and high-end skills, the post-graduate diploma in engineering competence will allow our graduate engineers to apply their learning in a work-based context, with the assessment focused on competence rather than academic ability.”