Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship

The Open University’s Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship programme develops the higher-level skills and behaviours required to create confident and capable digital and technology professionals.

Graduates from the programme will be competent to operate in a range of related digital roles, supporting their organisations to develop new products and services and increase productivity using digital technologies.

The Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship is a work-based higher education programme that integrates academic and work-based learning in a way that can be delivered flexibly around the demands of your workplace.

As technologies converge and the pace of digital change accelerates, this programme supports you by developing the necessary core knowledge, skills and behaviours for your apprentice to contribute to digital projects across your organisation - and to upskill as technologies advance

The apprenticeship has been awarded Tech Industry Gold Accreditation by the Tech Partnership, a consortium of leading employers collaborating to develop a highly-skilled and professional digital workforce throughout the UK.

Who is it for?

The structure of the programme supports you to grow and develop your own digital talent, whether you are upskilling or reskilling members of your existing workforce or onboarding new employees into digital and technology roles.

What core topics does the apprenticeship cover?

Why choose The Open University’s Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Degree Apprenticeship?

• It is delivered flexibly around the demands of your organisation and requires minimal time away from the workplace, using a blend of tutor-supported, rich-media online learning resources
• There are no academic pre-requisites associated with our programme, which enables you to maximise participation
• Learning can be delivered simultaneously to various locations using our tried-and-trusted educational technology, providing a consistent programme at scale to multiple staff
• 74% of Open University students are in employment; we know how to make knowledge stick in the minds of busy adults and we have designed our apprenticeships to ensure work-based learning is at the heart of our programmes
• We have over 50 years’ experience of providing supported distance learning programmes.

Programme structure

An apprenticeship requires at least 20% of an employee’s time to be allocated for off-the-job learning, but The Open University’s tutor-supported online learning gives you the flexibility to pick the most suitable times proactively and reactively around organisational needs – minimising the impact on day-to-day productivity.

Travel costs and expenses are also minimised, as most apprentices don’t have to attend day or block release sessions*.

A small number of optional face-to-face tutorials will take place across the UK. Tutorials can even take place in your workplace at a convenient time for an additional cost.

Online delivery is both varied and interactive, using rich media formats that engage and enthuse apprentices on their journey. Learning can be accessed 24/7 on computers, tablets and mobile devices. Online forums and tutorials as well as email and telephone communication are used to support apprentices throughout the programme.

On top of account management support, your organisation will also be allocated with the following Open University professionals:

• Practice Tutor - Helps apprentices to integrate learning into the workplace across the entire programme and supports the delivery of all of the work-based learning modules and the final work-based project. Apprentices and their line managers will have face-to-face or virtual meetings with their practice tutor at least four times per year.
• Academic Tutor - Subject-matter experts who facilitate learning within each of the knowledge modules, through personalised tuition, support and feedback.
• Apprenticeship Programme Delivery Manager - Supports employers to deliver apprenticeship programmes that meet their business needs and are to agreed financial and performance targets. Provides regular management information.

*Please note: for the Network Engineer specialism, attendance at two Cisco day schools is compulsory. These take place at various locations across the UK towards the end of both specialist modules.