Academic Professional Apprenticeship
The Level 7 Academic Professional Apprenticeship (L7 APA) is a new standard intended to develop full competency in early career academics’ role as practitioners.
Take a look at the project success story from the University of Exeter
The Academic Professional Apprenticeship is a route for HEIs in England to access Apprenticeship Levy funds to support costs of early career academic development.
Academic Professionals undertake the core role and follow one of two specialist routes, teaching and supporting learning or undertaking research. The apprenticeship requires an independent End Point Assessment (EPA) to be carried out. EPA has three components: a written submission, an observation of teaching practice (Specialist role in Teaching) or research skills (Specialist role in Research), and a professional conversation.
Advance HE is the registered End Point Assessment Organisation for the Level 7 Academic Professional Apprenticeship, working in partnership with Vitae. Our joint approach to EPA:
- Accessible: at the point that an apprentice is ready to take their EPA
- High quality: building on existing core capabilities to ensure a high quality of service
- Clearly linked to existing professional recognition
- Nationally standardised, so the sector can observe integrity in the system
The Standard defines the research aspects of academic career pathways using the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF). Opening a channel for recognition of the specialist research role. It also signals that the research competencies expected in an academic role are aligned to the Vitae RDF and ‘formalises’ researcher development. Vitae have been pleased to work with Advance HE, the APA has successfully brought together researcher and teaching frameworks - Vitae (RDF) & UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF).
If you or your institution are interested in taking part in the Academic Professional Apprenticeship, or have any queries, please contact: apa@vitae.ac.uk
