Choosing to take up higher learning opportunities while working– a checklist for learners

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Choosing to take up higher learning opportunities while working – a checklist for learners Higher learning at work series www.higherlearningatwork.org

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you are choosing a course that is right for you. It is for people who want to study for a qualification at Level 4 and above, while working. It includes questions you should ask course providers, employers, Sector Skills Councils and professional bodies. If you don’t know where to start, contact the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900 or visit https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

Which opportunity?

You may be thinking about an honours degree course, a Higher National Certificate or Diploma, a Foundation degree or a professional qualification which may lead to registration, licensed or chartered status. You may also be considering a Higher Apprenticeship, which may include a Higher National or Foundation degree. You will need to think carefully about which option will provide the best pathway to what you would like to achieve. This checklist will help you to ensure that you have all the information you need to make an informed choice.

Foundation degrees are probably the least well known of the above and they have been designed with work-based learners in mind. They are:

yy Work-based learning degrees designed and delivered by colleges,

universities and other training institutions in partnership with employers

yy A combination of academic and work-based learning, developing the skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to your employment

yy A route to enhance your future prospects and progression at work yy Foundation degrees are qualifications awarded by universities at a level equivalent to the first two years of a full-time degree and can provide access to the final year of an honours degree. They provide an alternative to HNDs and to traditional undergraduate study and can also be studied through distance learning.

They are available to people in work, people who want to progress their careers and those who have completed Level 3 qualifications, including advanced apprenticeships.

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“Visit the Higher Learning at Work website to get some ideas – now you can even get a loan if you study part-time.”

Choosing to take up higher learning opportunities while working – a checklist for learners

This checklist will help you to make sure that

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Making a choice In order to decide which course or programme is the best choice for you, you need to think about what you want to do in your career and the different routes and pathways that best fit your circumstances. A careers adviser can help you to do this, or you may want to speak to a manager at work or a Union Learning Representative (ULR).

Other questions that an adviser can help with are:

yy I want to study while continuing to work – what are my options? yy Will my previous experience and qualifications be suitable preparation for working towards a qualification at Level 4 and above?

yy What are the costs of the various options and can I get any help with funding? yy What is available locally or through distance learning? yy If you think a particular type of course or qualification would suit you, you need to be sure that the course you have chosen will be the best route to your personal and career goals.

A careers adviser may be able to give you most of the information you need, but there are some specific questions that you will need to check in order to make sure that you make an informed decision. Here are some questions that you or your adviser can ask Sector Skills Councils, course providers, employers and professional bodies.

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Choosing to take up higher learning opportunities while working – a checklist for learners

“I hadn’t realised how easy distance learning is – I tried an Open University taster course on the Openlearn website (www.openlearn. open.ac.uk).”

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You or your adviser can use the relevant SSC website or telephone helpline to find information about careers, jobs, qualifications and National Occupational Standards in specific sectors.

yy What is the current employment situation in my chosen career? yy How can I find out what is happening in the local labour market? yy What different pathways are there to my career goal? yy Do I need specific qualifications in order to achieve my goal? yy Do I need professional registration or a licence to enter or progress in this career?

Questions for course providers Foundation degrees are Level 5 qualifications validated by universities.

Courses may be provided by universities, further education colleges, distance/ online learning providers and by some large employers in partnership with an institution. Higher National Diplomas are also at Level 5 and are awarded by EdExcel. Honours degrees are Level 6 qualifications.

If you want to study at a higher level to advance your career, and you want the course and the assessment to be work-based, it is important to check what involvement employers have had in developing the qualification and the course and whether your employer or the employers you might work for in the future will know what it is.

yy Will the course fit with full-time work? yy If my work situation is not relevant can work placements be arranged? yy Which university awards the qualification? yy What role did employers play in developing the qualification or the course?

yy Which employers were involved in developing the qualification or the course?

yy What evidence is there that employers in the sector I want to work in recognise this qualification?

yy What current experience do your tutors have of the relevant workplace/sector?

yy How much time do I need to allocate to studying each week?

yy When will I need to attend college? yy Can I study all or part of the course online?

yy How much of my learning will be work-based and how will this work in my situation?

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“There are so many courses developed by Universities with employers – so they get the skills they need and are willing to support learners at work.”

Choosing to take up higher learning opportunities while working – a checklist for learners

Questions for Sector Skills Councils (SSCs)

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Questions for course providers (continued) yy Who will help me with work-based projects and assignments? yy What will happen if I miss sessions or deadlines – is there any flexibility? yy How will the course help me to develop research and study skills if I have not studied for a while?

yy Should I do any preparatory courses before applying for the course? yy Can I have help to fill any gaps in my skills and knowledge while studying? yy Will my work experience and training be taken into account in my application? yy If I decide to top up my Foundation degree or HND to an honours degree what are my options and when do I need to apply?

yy Who will advise me about progression in my career, my current job or to further study?

yy What does it cost and do you provide any help with the costs of studying? yy Can I contact students who have done or are doing the course at work so that I can check what they think?

Questions for employers If you are planning to study for a relevant Foundation degree while working, check these aspects with your employer. Your employer will have some questions about the time commitment needed and what will be involved in work-based assignments or assessment.

yy Were you involved in developing any qualifications or courses? yy If I improve my skills through studying for a Foundation degree, will this help me to gain promotion at work or contribute to business planning?

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Choosing to take up higher learning opportunities while working – a checklist for learners

“I did a Foundation degree part-time, topped up to an Honours degree, attending college one evening a week and doing assignments at work.”

yy What do you think of the courses and programmes available at local colleges or online?

yy Can you provide any financial support for me while studying? yy Can I have time off to attend college? yy Can I base my workplace learning, projects and assignments on this business? yy Can I complete work-based assignments or assessments during working hours?

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yy Can I use the computer at work to prepare my assignments?

Questions for professional bodies If you have chosen a career which requires professional registration, you must check in advance whether the qualification and course you have chosen will count towards the formal requirements and what else you will need to do in order to achieve your aims.

yy Which higher level qualifications do you recognise as part of a route to professional registration?

yy At which level are they recognised? yy Which specific courses or programmes can contribute towards professional registration for my chosen career?

yy Are there any higher level qualifications that are not recognised? yy If I ‘top-up’ a Foundation degree or HND to an honours degree, which degrees will enable me to achieve professional registration and at which level?

yy What else would I have to do to achieve professional registration?

Find out more You can find out more about work-based higher learning at www.higherlearningatwork.org You can also get further information about higher education from the Directgov website at www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm You can contact a National Careers Service adviser on 0800 100 900 or visit https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

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This document was originally produced by fdf – innovating workforce development.

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