Graduate Apprentiships with the University of Dundee

University of Dundee apprenticeships “challenging the myths” and boosting local community

The hunt is on for employers across Dundee and Angus to take part in the University’s biggest graduate apprenticeship programme to date.

While most people associate apprenticeships with teens straight out of school, one local programme is proving that’s not always the case. In its biggest Graduate Apprenticeship programme to date, the University of Dundee is offering places to people of all ages and academic backgrounds for the academic year 2020-21. The scheme is being run in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS), which is funding the initiative. And with courses starting this September, the University is on the hunt for employers to collaborate. Judith Halliday, Graduate Apprenticeships Programme Director at the University of Dundee says: “We’re looking for employers across the Dundee and Angus region to make this programme available to relevant members of their workforce.” The University will work with employers to provide qualifications in subjects covering business, IT and engineering. Courses include Business Management; Engineering, Design and Manufacturing; Civil Engineering; IT: Management for Business; and IT: Software Development. “Participants can combine their tuition at the University with an employer relevant to that sector of study. It’s a perfect balance and one that we believe is an important boost to the community,” says Judith, adding: “It’s a programme that challenges the myths about apprenticeships. Most people think of apprenticeships for teens straight out of school. In fact they are open to people of all ages and

all academic backgrounds. They could be current employees who have significant experience and who want to develop their future career options.” The University first teamed up with Skills Development Scotland in 2017, but this is its largest number of Graduate Apprenticeships to date.

Jill Martin, a 2nd year Graduate Apprenticeship Student said:

I have found this year invaluable. Exposure to Financial Management, Networking, HCI, Programming, and tools for Systems Analysis and Design have all been invaluable. Time out to study frameworks that underpin your role, and theory to assist with tasks allocated in your day to day work, underpins existing knowledge which gives you the confidence to question best practice and take the learning back into the workplace. Exposure to areas of IT that are outwith the scope of your role give a more holistic view of IT and an appreciation of ‘the bigger picture’. This gives you the ability to talk to colleagues with a greater understanding and consideration of their viewpoint.

Universities and colleges across the country are widening their choice of Graduate Apprenticeships and Skills Development Scotland will continue to develop subjects that focus on a range of sectors where there is a need for highly skilled jobs.

If you are interested in finding out more about our 2020 intake, employers and prospective students can contact Kirsty Peters or the Graduate Apprenticeships team, at the University of Dundee, on 01382 384807 or ga@dundee.ac.uk.

Maximise potential by combining 4 days per week work-based learning and 1 day per week of high quality education. #MakeItCount8020

Kate Forbes, Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy, opens the University of Dundee’s Employer’s Technology Forum which is coordinated by Graduate Apprenticeships.