Abstract:

Skills Development Scotland is committed towards developing an inclusive environment for work-based learning and runs a range of programme such as Modern Apprenticeship, Foundation Apprenticeship, Graduate Apprenticeship, etc. These programmes offer an opportunity for individuals to engage with academia and build skills and experiences that employers want to see. The focus of this research is on Graduate Apprenticeship students who enter academia while on full-time employment. This study sets out to hear and understand of their transitional experience.

Thirteen Graduate Apprenticeship engineering students participated in the data collection phase. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and were focussed on the experience and challenges faced by the students during their transition from industry to higher education. The findings suggest that students found the experience to be positive and they see the qualification from the university to be their way forward for career progression in the industry. Some students recounted their main challenge to be time management, juggling their time between family, industry, and university. The participants also acknowledged the support provided to them by the academic staff and found it to be crucial to overcome the challenges. The findings illustrated that despite many challenges encountered, students viewed their experience with the programme to be quite positive.

Keywords:

Graduate apprenticeship, higher education, industry, students, transition