Apprenticeships and Partnerships Committee (APC)

Purpose

To approve, monitor and review the University’s apprenticeships and collaborative partnership arrangements with external organisations.

Terms of Reference (2024-25)

  1. To have oversight of the University of Birmingham’s apprenticeships and collaborative partnerships, and other skills delivery funded by the Department for Education as appropriate.
  2. To own, develop, and update as required, the University’s Apprenticeships Strategy, Policy on Collaborative Provision and related processes and procedures, with the Chair of the Committee acting as owner of these documents.
  3. To receive and consider proposals for the development of new apprenticeships and collaborative partnership arrangements with external organisations in the UK and internationally (for collaborative partnerships).   
  4. To manage potential reputational and/or financial risks and any threats to the University’s current provision that might arise from the development of apprenticeship and collaborative partnerships.
  5. To approve the method for reviews of collaborative partnership arrangements and to receive and consider the review documentation of collaborative partnerships which are due to expire, approving any subsequent action, including the continuation or termination of an arrangement.
  6. To reflect upon ethical issues which may arise from the nature and management of proposed collaborative partnership arrangements, and apprenticeships where applicable, to ensure compliance with internal and external legislative requirements. 
  7. To receive proposals for the withdrawal from and/or termination or modification of apprenticeships and collaborative partnerships before the date of expiry of the legal agreement.   
  8. To receive and consider data reports relating to apprentices and employer numbers, including breaks in learning, retention, success and satisfaction rates.
  9. To receive and consider reports, including those from annual programme reviews for apprenticeships and collaborative partnership arrangements and to follow through any issues of concern arising from the reports.

Reporting relationship

  1. Reports to the University Education Committee (UEC), Quality, Enhancement, and Standards Committee (QESC) and the University Recruitment, Admissions and Targets Committee (URAT).
  2. Formal reports will be submitted to UQAC on an annual basis. Apprenticeship pipeline reporting will be submitted to URAT on a quarterly basis.
  3. Receive updates from College Quality Assurance Committees and College Apprenticeship Committees.
  4. The Committee receives reports from the Accreditation Committee of University College Birmingham.
  5. Complex or high-risk proposals, including those of strategic importance, and proposals for the withdrawal from and/or termination of arrangements, may be referred by the Committee to University Executive Board (UEB).

Working arrangements

  1. The Apprenticeships and Partnerships Committee will meet five times per year. This will be reviewed as required.
  2.  Dates for meetings and a calendar of business will be confirmed at the beginning of the session. Should a member of the Committee be unable to attend or wish to withdraw, they must nominate a replacement with appropriate standing and have the Chair’s prior approval.
  3.  Committee papers, including minutes from the previous meetings and actions agreed, will be uploaded onto the Committee Teams site and circulated in advance of the next meeting.
  4.  Should any urgent decisions be required before the next meeting, the agreement must be received from the Chair.

Membership

  • Chair: Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education Policy and Academic Standards)
  • Secretary: Apprenticeships and Partnerships Officer, Registry, Academic Services
  • College Academic Apprenticeship Leads
  • College Academic Collaborative Partnerships Leads
  • Academic Services representative
  • Director of Operations representative
  • Nominee of the Director of Birmingham Global
  • Director of the Doctoral School
  • Deputy Director of External Relations
  • Director of Educational Enterprise
  • CPD and Bootcamps representative
  • Director of Strategic Planning
  • Head of Business Partnering
  • Apprenticeship Scheme Manager, Human Resources
  • Head of IT Business Partnering
  • Head of Digital Education - LES
  • Head of Apprenticeships and Partnerships
  • Collaborative Provision Officer

Additional members may be invited, dependent on the calendar of business:

  • Deputy Director of Legal Services
  • Library Services representative
  • Education Officer, Guild of Students (ex-officio)
  • Postgraduate Officer, Guild of Students (ex-officio)

Meeting dates 2024/25

  • 28 November 2024
  • 11 February 2025
  • 10 April 2025
  • 24 June 2025

Papers are available from the Secretary: Sarah O'Donovan s.g.odonovan@bham.ac.uk

Colleges

Professional Services