The On-line Conference about UK Degree apprenticeships, jointly organized by the National Institute of Education Sciences (NIES), the Association of Education and Technology, and the China-British Business Council, was held on April 17-18, 2020. 7,158 participants attended the on-line conference.
Five experts were invited to share their views on degree apprenticeships in the UK. Jonathan Ledger, specialist of the Education Team of the Department for International Trade, UK, delivered two presentations entitled “Apprenticeship in the UK: creating and delivering successful industry-specific higher and degree apprenticeships” and “Understanding how industry can nurture and develop its own talent through apprenticeship schemes”, respectively. Prof. Geoff Hayward, head of the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge, delivered a lecture entitled “Apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship: what might China learn from the English experience?” Liz Gorb, director of Apprenticeships, Manchester Metropolitan University, delivered the lecture entitled “Partnering with employers to develop innovative degree apprenticeships”. Aidan Friend, associate pro-vice-chancellor at Coventry University Group and Kerry McGreavy, head of Apprenticeships at Coventry University, delivered a lecture entitled “Utilising apprenticeships to develop talent and open up career pathways”.
The conference was the first on-line international academic exchange activity held by the NIES during the coronavirus outbreak. The aim was to strengthen academic exchange with other countries around the world. The meeting has strengthened the participants’ understanding of degree apprenticeships in the UK and accumulated useful experience for the NIES to explore the way to carry out on-line international academic exchange and cooperation.
Representatives from the Research Center for Vocational, Technical and Continuing Education and the Department for International Exchange participated in this event.
