The University of Cumbria has been given a good rating for its apprenticeship provision by Ofsted.
The education watchdog carried out a four-day inspection at the university and said overall, its programmes were good.
It was also found to be good in the five categories inspectors review – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and apprenticeships.
The University of Cumbria currently has more than 2,000 learners on employer-backed higher and degree apprenticeships, many on paramedic, project manager, registered nurse and professional forester apprenticeships programmes.
The university’s apprenticeship provision was previously inspected in 2019 where the visit covered a small number of learners on two programmes.
Praise for the university’s provision included the ambitions, characteristics, and development of its apprentices; individualised support given by leaders and staff; and the high quality of facilities and resources benefitting learners.
Ofsted said University of Cumbria apprentices:
- Consistently demonstrate highly professional behaviours and attitudes to their learning and work
- Are proud to serve their communities, with healthcare apprentices showing ‘high levels of support for the people they care for
- Develop their character, confidence and resilience because of what they learn during their apprenticeship
- Benefit from very well-equipped facilities and high-quality resources
- Are motivated to learn and are ambitious to achieve their qualifications and work-related targets
Leaders and managers were commended for accurately identifying local, regional and national needs shortages in areas such as health, project management and forestry.
The university was also recognised for its work with employers to upskill workforces and national bodies to help them meet government initiatives as well as national skills needs, designing ambitious apprenticeships that are accessible nationally.
Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell said: “We introduced degree apprenticeships to capitalise on our strengths and to address employer needs, with a strong focus on collaborative working with sectors, employers, professional bodies and education partners.
“Seven years on, we are one of the largest providers of degree apprenticeships in the country, with over 2,000 degree apprentices across programmes covering Paramedicine, Project Management, Senior Leadership, Nursing, Diagnostic Radiography, Healthcare and Forestry and with additional funding from the Office for Students to expand even further.
“It is therefore very pleasing, to have achieved Ofsted Good across all aspects of our provision and to be praised by Ofsted for the excellent collaborative working we have with employers and the experience, knowledge and skills of our staff.
“I am very proud of the many colleagues who have contributed to this growth and outcome, which placed alongside the TEF Silver award and the Good Ofsted ITE [Initial Teacher Education] outcome we received in 2023, indicates the progress the university is making in delivering on our strategic mission and purpose.”
University of Cumbria trains a range of healthcare apprenticeships and is the leading provider of paramedic apprenticeships in England.
