Published on 19 October 2023
From journalism to nursing, from teacher training to public health, our degree apprenticeships have become increasingly popular and now cover a wide range of subjects.
While these apprenticeships are an important part of the University’s undergraduate and postgraduate offer, they are also very different from our standard programmes.
These courses integrate academic study with practical application in the workplace and offer the learner the opportunity to obtain a foundation, bachelor’s or Master’s degree through a blend of work and study.
Apprenticeships also come with particular challenges associated with not one, but three regulatory bodies – Ofsted, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the Office for Students, and often a fourth, a subject-related Professional Statutory Regulatory Body accreditation (PSRB).
This means there are special demands on all those involved in leading, teaching and administration of these apprenticeships. This requires oversight and support from the new post of Academic Director.
Today, the University can announce that Sarah Beck will take on this new role from November 1. She will be working across the University to oversee and support all work relating to degree apprenticeship quality and regulatory compliance, curriculum development and enhancement, learner outcomes and employer engagement.
Professor Michael young, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) said: “I’m delighted that Sarah has been appointed to this new role, following a highly competitive external process. Sarah brings to the role her considerable knowledge and experience of degree apprenticeships, having led developments in Social Work, with her academic-led insight into the opportunities and demands of apprenticeship provision that will support our whole portfolio.”
Sarah is currently the Associate Head of School (Social Work, Community and Youth Work Studies). She has taken the lead in the development of the University’s Social Work Apprenticeship programme and is also undertaking research into the use of this model of professional education.
Sarah joined the University in 2018 and is a Registered Social Worker. She has worked in social work education in the north-east since 2008, after 15 years of practice experience in the field of mental health.
Speaking about her appointment to the post of Academic Director Degree Apprenticeships, Sarah said: “The University is at an exciting stage of development in relation to apprenticeships provision and I am very much looking forward to working with colleagues to build on existing good practice and to further improve the educational experience and outcomes of our apprentices across all subject areas, whilst also responding to the workforce needs of our partner agencies.
“The University of Sunderland is a great place to work and I’m very grateful to have been given this opportunity to further develop my career here.”
Sarah will join the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching Senior Team, Professor Abigail Moriarty.
Abigail explained: “The work Sarah will lead is vital to the University’s portfolio and her successful appointment as an Academic Director reflects her talent and expertise in this area.”