Find Foundation Degree - News

Foundation degrees offer ''vision for the future''

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Former Education Secretary says important lessons must be learned from success of Fds.

The continuing growth of Foundation degrees provides a vision for the future that the higher education community should not ignore.

Estelle Morris, writing in The Guardian, claims that those offering traditional degrees could learn a lot from the diverse entry routes and patterns of provision offered by Fds.

“These degrees have called for new ways of working between higher and further education, and between academia, business and industry,” says the former Education Secretary, now Baroness Morris of Yardley.

“Employers and students are in the driving seat of course design, and strong links between universities and colleges mean it is easy for students to complete an honours degree.”

Baroness Morris acknowledges that the Fd has suffered criticism in the past as it does not sit easy with more traditional university perceptions.

“These degrees came on the scene at a time of growing budgets and the expansion of the post-18 sector,” she adds. “They reflected the 50% higher education participation target and were a response to the comparatively low adult skill level.

“Yet their success may have lessons in these different times. The economy and the country still need more people skilled to a higher level and recession doesn't diminish the argument that social progress can be a consequence of more people having the chance to benefit from a degree-level education.

“The temptation is always to do less when money is scarce, but Lord Mandelson makes a good case for doing things differently. His call for...greater flexibility and a sector that has the ability to respond better to the demands of its students is worth heeding – and subject courses may learn something from their vocational neighbours.

“It isn't just the financial crisis that means we need to rethink, but the consequences for people's lives and the changing demands of employers. It calls for diverse entry routes and patterns of provision across higher education.

“Foundation degrees will never be at the top of the academic tree, but their record of innovation might be a lesson from which others could learn.”

Successful Fd embraced by travel industry

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

First graduates congratulated at House of Commons reception.

The first graduates from the Foundation degree in Travel Operations Management have been congratulated on their achievement at a House of Commons reception hosted by fdf (Foundation Degree Forward).

The graduates, employees of travel company TUI, have pioneered the FdTOM and the innovative qualification is now being rolled out across the industry.

Kevin Brennan, Minister for Apprenticeships, Further Education and Consumer Affairs at the Department for Business Innovation & Skills, paid tribute to the graduates and said the Fd programme was a prime example of a successful employer-led, high level qualification.

Foundation degrees are a central feature of the government’s new framework for Higher Education and the Skills Strategy unveiled by BIS last year.

Professor Derek Longhurst, chief executive of fdf, said the FdTOM is an example of the innovative ways employers can work with HE providers to create high level training provision.

The flexibility of the qualification proves particularly attractive to employers and he added:

“It is essential that we continue to develop creative models of the qualification that are rooted in partnership and collaborative dialogue between academic institutions, employers like TUI and employees such as these graduates. This will ensure the Foundation degree is widely perceived as meeting real social and economic need.

“Facilitating that dialogue and challenging attitudes is what fdf is all about. We see partnership with companies like TUI, leading their sector in developing and investing in their people, as an alliance that can deliver both business benefit and create opportunities for personal and professional development that would not otherwise exist.

“We all know that we will face difficult and challenging times in the next few years. This kind of innovative approach is one strong response to those challenges.”

Dermot Blastland, MD of TUI UK and Ireland, paid tribute to the efforts of all those who developed the initial FdTOM programme and the first graduates.

He said he was proud that TUI was blazing a trail for the rest of the industry:

“This programme is very important for our organisation, but also significant for the individuals involved. I am hoping this success percolates throughout the organisation and the industry as a whole.

“I am certainly a great supporter of this Foundation degree programme. As a company we are fully committed to its on-going development and hopefully others will begin to share in its success.”

Twenty graduates attended the reception and were joined by representatives from a variety of universities and colleges involved in the FdTOM programme, along with other employers and organisations backing the qualification.

Brian Wisdom, chief executive of People 1^st, the sector skills council for hospitality, leisure and tourism, highlighted the significance that the majority of the first graduates are women. He said:

“Although 60% of the workforce in our industry is women, only 6% occupy board level positions. We need this to change and who knows we may see some of the next generation of female directors amongst the first graduates from this Foundation degree.

“TUI has been in the vanguard of professional training within our industry, it has long recognised that such qualifications add real value to their business. There is now an opportunity for others in the industry to support this qualification.”

Share your experience of assessing work-based learning in Foundation degrees

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Do you have experience of assessment practice that is particularly effective or innovative?.

fdf has commissioned the Student Assessment and Classification Working Group (SACWG) to produce a Guide to good practice in the assessment of work-based learning in Foundation degrees during 2010.

The Guide will include a series of examples of effective, different or innovative assessment that have been or are being used in this aspect of assessment of Foundation degree students. We are therefore interested in specific examples of assessment practice rather than assessment strategies and policies concerning how work-based learning is or should be assessed.

If you have an example of assessment practice that you would be willing to share with colleagues please complete the brief survey at http://tinyurl.com/FDF-WBL-survey. Every example that is included in the Guide will be formally acknowledged with the name of the institution, the title of the Foundation degree concerned and the name of the contact.

Supporting workplace study

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

New free development resource for workplace mentors and supervisors .

To assist colleges, universities and employers involved in work-based learning delivery fdf have liaised with the Open University to produce this on-line open resource.

Work-based learning is fundamental to Foundation degrees, and fundamental to the success of students’ work-based learning is the support they receive in the workplace. This resource is aimed at professional staff involved in providing mentoring or educational supervision to colleagues (or others on placement in their organisation), as part of a Foundation degree or other accredited work-based / practice based course of study. Both new and experienced mentors and supervisors will find this flexible resource useful as a contribution to their own learning and development in the workplace.

For more details click here

Government framework acclaims successful Foundation degrees

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Higher Ambitions: The future of universities in a knowledge economy has been published, setting out the Government’s plans for higher education..

The framework focuses on the future development of HE and highlights the Government’s priorities to continue widening access, sustain and improve standards and meet the economy’s needs for high level skills.

A central element of the Government’s proposals is expanding the provision of flexible, work-based and part-time qualifications, such as Foundation degrees.

The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) will also be asked to devise new funding incentives to develop HE programmes that deliver the higher level skills needed.

“The framework gives priority to growing a diverse range of models of higher education most attractive to non-traditional students through part-time and work-based provision aimed at mature students,” explains Professor Derek Longhurst, fdf’s Chief Executive. “In particular, it encourages the further expansion of the successful Foundation degree.

“The report asks HEFCE to devise new funding incentives to develop higher education programmes that deliver the higher level skills needed for economic recovery and future growth. It reiterates the need for universities to rise to the challenge of opening up new revenue streams through working more closely with business and industry.

“It also calls for universities to respond to the needs of students and employers by making provision available throughout the year and for the distinction between part-time and full-time study to become increasingly irrelevant.”

A further significant proposal is to allow funding to be diverted towards those courses that meet strategic skills needs, such as those Foundation degrees being developed for the energy and low carbon industries, and away from institutions delivering courses that fail to meet high standards of quality or outcome.

Higher Ambitions: The future of universities in a knowledge economy can be downloaded from the BIS website at http://www.bis.gov.uk/mandelson-outlines-future-of-higher-education

New degree launched as fdf builds on partnership

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Jewson and Birmingham City University develop industry-leading Foundation degree.

A House of Commons reception hosted by fdf has seen the launch of the first ever Foundation degree in Builders’ Merchanting.

The degree is the result of a partnership between fdf, Jewson, the UK’s leading builders’ merchant, and Birmingham City University. It has been in development for almost two years and was launched with a keynote speech from Ian Lucas MP, Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform.

Jewson also launched a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Strategy to run in tandem with the new Foundation Degree.

Professor Derek Longhurst, Chief Executive of fdf, commented: “In the context of the recession, it is vitally important for large employers like Jewson to demonstrate what can be done through positive developments such as this foundation degree that will benefit both the business and employees.

“The use of fdf’s EBTA (Employer-Based Training Accreditation) service has generated a strong and lasting partnership between an employer providing high quality training opportunities and a University supporting development through accreditation.”

The Jewson Fd is aimed at new and existing Branch Managers and Assistant Branch Managers, who have completed Jewson’s in-house Potential Branch Manager programme, and will be delivered through face-to-face modules, e-learning and web forums. The inaugural intake of 25 students from Jewson and its sister business Graham, a leading plumbers’ merchant, are enrolled to start the Foundation Degree from October 2009.

Peter Hindle MBE, Managing Director of Jewson and Chief Executive of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK & Ireland, explained: “The Jewson Foundation degree is an industry first and something that everyone throughout the business is extremely proud of.

"We recognise that investing in our people, particularly in today’s challenging economic climate, is essential if we are to maintain our position as the UK’s leading builders’ merchant and ensure that Jewson emerges from the recession ahead of its competitors.

“The Jewson Foundation degree will also reinforce the crucial role of the builders’ merchant in helping the construction sector deliver a more sustainable built environment. It will further professionalise our involvement with the relevant supply-chains and ensure that our students are well-equipped to play a leading role in the future of the construction industry.”

The partnership with Birmingham City University, one of the largest business schools in the UK, is the first of its kind for the construction sector and will deliver an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to education.

The 14-month course will be supported by a Birmingham City University lecturer and the Jewson training department, culminating in a two day project presentation where students will be required to demonstrate creative thinking that has led to a bottom-line impact on the Jewson business.

The Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Strategy begins in January 2010 and will welcome 18 students, aiming to prepare delegates for senior management roles with broader responsibilities.

For more information about Jewson go to www.jewson.co.uk.
Further details about Birmingham City University can be found at www.bcu.ac.uk

Tesco graduates make headlines

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT

First Retail Management Foundation degree students celebrate success.

Following two years of work-based studying, 17 retail managers have become the first to graduate with the Tesco Retail Foundation degree.

The successful pilot class students were awarded their degrees by Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of The Arts London.

The course, which runs alongside Tesco’s existing A-Level Options programme and its graduate recruitment scheme, combines academic study with workplace learning and equips graduates with the relevant knowledge, understanding, and skills to improve performance and productivity.

Some of these core skills include consumer behaviour, in-store marketing, management of information, retail law and retail leadership.

Tesco’s UK operations personnel director, Hayley Tatum, is delighted with the flexible, innovative approach to training the Fd provides the company.

“Tesco staff can learn while they earn and this has shaped the approach Tesco has taken to the Foundation Degree - you don’t need a string of A-levels or months away from the shop floor,” she added. “The opportunity to study in the workplace is a key element of foundation degrees. I am very proud of what our new graduates have achieved."

fdf facilitated the development of this employer-led retail Foundation degree in partnership with Tesco, University of Arts, London, Manchester Metropolitan University, My Knowledge Map, and advisory partners of Skillsmart Retail Ltd and The Retail Academy Ltd.

The Fd aims to provide a higher education work-based qualification in retailing that will give students transferable knowledge and skills across the retail sector, focusing on retail store management.

fdf works with employers to create opportunities for workforce development through education and training in partnership with institutions providing higher education focused upon business needs.

Memorandum of Understanding with unionlearn

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

On November 16th 2007 Professor Derek Longhurst, Chief Executive of fdf, and Liz Smith, Director of unionlearn, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in recognition of fdf’s and unionlearn’s joint commitment to raising the aspirations of working adults and ensuring they are supported to progress to higher education..

The MoU builds on existing joint working where regionally fdf have contributed to the training and up-dating of unionlearn reps and have helped identify higher education opportunities for working adults. Nationally unionlearn have liaised with fdf to help take forward fdf initiatives such as EBTA, a process for accrediting employer-based training, and training in IAG related to Foundation degrees. The MoU will now underpin a jointly agreed work plan to achieve their shared aims and objectives.

For further information about fdf's work with unionlearn contact Susan Hayday, fdf Director for Widening Participation susan.hayday@fdf.ac.uk

EBTA launched at the House of Commons

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

The fdf Employer-based Training Accreditation (EBTA) scheme was launched at a Parliamentary reception on 10 March 2008. .

Members of Parliament were joined by senior figures from higher education institutions, business and the public sector.

Retail Foundation degree launched

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

fdf launched the first employer-led Foundation degree for the retail industry on 23rd April 2008, building upon the ongoing pilot of the programme by Tesco. .

Members of Parliament were joined by senior figures from major retailers, sector skills councils, higher education institutions and training providers to discuss the wider aims of the retail Foundation degree.