The University of Aberdeen is offering 20 funded places on its new graduate apprenticeship BEng civil engineering programme .
Graduate apprenticeships are designed to enable employers to develop new or existing staff through a blend of work-based and on-campus learning, meaning staff remain working full-time for their company while earning their degree.
Scotland’s national skills body Skills Development Scotland developed graduate apprenticeships in partnership with employers, universities, colleges, and professional bodies to create stronger links between education and industry.
The university’s civil engineering programme is considered among the best in the UK, and is accredited by the Institution of Structural Engineers, Institution of Civil Engineers, Institute of Highways Engineers and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation
Starting in September this year, the graduate apprenticeship consists of two two-week blocks of campus-based learning each year, each followed by a period of work-based-learning (WBL).
Programme co-ordinator, Dr Paul Davidson, said: “We are delighted to offer these graduate apprenticeship positions, funded by Skills Development Scotland.
“Our involvement in the scheme is testament to the quality of our civil engineering programmes, which are consistently ranked among the best in the UK and rated highly for teaching quality, student satisfaction and graduate employability.
“The graduate apprenticeships offer employers and workers the opportunity to benefit from the tangible business benefits that apprenticeships have been shown to deliver, such as improved productivity and performance, talent development and retention, and staff engagement in their own professional development.”
Skills Development Scotland, director of service design and innovation, Jonathan Clark, said: “The success and growth of graduate apprenticeships demonstrates that they are supporting employers to upskill their workforce and giving individuals more opportunities to learn and develop their career whilst in employment.
“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.”