Associate feature: Earning and learning: How to find the right combination for employers, students, and industry challenges in the Scottish economy

Parity of esteem. An oft-used phrase in Scottish skills discussions referring to equal value being placed on vocational and academic courses. 

But what if we need parity of esteem within higher education itself? In a rapidly changing economy, it’s time to think about how we better bridge the gap between education and industry.

As a leading global accountancy body and qualification provider, representing more than 250,000 accountants and a further 500,000 future accountants in training, ACCA are always looking at new education and training pathways that best meet the needs of employers, students, and industry.

The good news is we already have a solution – Graduate Apprenticeships. Described as having ‘huge potential’ in the Withers skills review, Graduate Apprenticeships combine university learning with employment, giving the best of both worlds to learners and employers, while tackling challenges of work-readiness, an issue often cited by employers across Scotland’s economy. 

While ACCA supports a broad range of pathways and apprenticeships, a key benefit of the Graduate Apprenticeship model for professions like accountancy is that the learner undertakes the accountancy degree combined with professional qualification, whilst working. Crucially, they can achieve their professional ACCA qualification and degree whilst earning and building up work experience, within five years instead of seven or more years in traditional pathways.  

The feedback has so far been overwhelmingly positive. Employers value a work-based training approach that enables a high level of technical education with the development of ‘work-ready’ skills, while learners don’t miss out on the student experience and a portable qualification. Graduate Apprenticeships are currently available to all age groups, and the virtue of ‘earning while you learn’, helps make this a more practical and accessible route to higher education. These blended learning opportunities allow a range of students to undertake study and enter career pathways with good prospects and professional development down the line.  

Yet despite these obvious benefits, tailor-made to address challenges in Scotland’s labour market, broader awareness about the qualification is still relatively low, with knock-on implications for how Graduate Apprenticeships are viewed against a traditional first degree. 

Graduate Apprenticeships do result in the same degree-level qualification, however the funding available for these courses and the eligibility criteria does differ to traditional university degrees. A consequence of all these factors is that Graduate Apprenticeships currently account for a tiny proportion of overall undergraduate places.  

One way to tackle the mismatch between what our economy needs and how our education and skills system works is to lean into new ways of learning - such as Graduate Apprenticeships. This could be key to maintaining Scotland’s high level of educational attainment but delivering it in a way that better meets labour market needs. 

To achieve that, we need the Scottish Government, agencies, schools and employers to get behind Graduate Apprenticeships. Simplifying and increasing funding available, incentivising universities to work with employers, and stimulating demand are all crucial if we’re going to mainstream this way of degree learning in Scotland. 

We mustn’t lose focus on backing new pathways that deliver what industry needs – and sets up our students for a successful future.  

This article is sponsored by ACCA. 

www.accaglobal.com