September 16, 2019
Twenty seven Degree Apprentices have been given their first taste of University life in a first-of-its-kind initiative within Cardiff Met to provide relevant, contemporary placements for Apprentices working within a variety of local businesses.
The Apprentices will be studying part-time towards a BSc in Applied Data Science, while gaining valuable industry experience with prominent organisations based in Wales, including The Office of National Statistics (ONS); Welsh Government; Companies House; NightingaleHQ and ALS Training.
While their course will be taught at the University's high spec Cardiff School of Technologies, the students were given a full campus orientation day
Degree Apprenticeships are fully funded by Welsh Government for up to four years and are an alternative to traditional university study as students will work full time in relevant employment with select industry partners while studying at Cardiff Met on a part time basis.
The programme aims to equip apprentices with the necessary skills and knowledge to understand, apply and critically evaluate the underlying Data Science principles through 'real world' application, providing an excellent pathway to high profile careers.
Professor Jon Platts – Dean of Cardiff School of Technologies at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said: "We are very much looking forward to working with Business and Organisational partners to produce a new cohort of graduates."
Apprentices are forwarded for the degree programme by their employer, with the degree also available to existing full-time employees aiming to upskill.
Alison Adams, Talent Lead at the ONS Data Science Campus said: "It is great that the Welsh Government are funding this ground-breaking programme as part of their degree apprenticeship trial. At the Data Science Campus, we are working with universities and other partners across the country to offer learning opportunities, which aim to inspire the next generation of analysts and policy-makers.
"This new apprenticeship pathway will offer a great chance to learn data science skills and join this growing profession. I'd like to wish good luck to the first cohort and look forward to following their career journey."
