Over half a million pounds of funding will be invested by the University in the development of twelve courses – nine in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (HSS) and three in the Faculty of Creative Arts, Technology & Sciences (CATS) – that will help plug skill-gaps and provide an alternative to the standard three-year degree.

A Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) is a Level 4 and 5 qualification, placing it between A Levels (Level 3) and bachelor degrees (Level 6), and is developed both by the awarding institution and employers so that learners get the specific training, knowledge and skills required for their chosen career.

Dr Louise Grant, Executive Dean of HSS says the funding will give her faculty the ability to help supply the NHS with the highly trained staff it needs. She said:

“I’m thrilled that we have been successful in our application for funds. This funding gives the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences the opportunity to grow its Allied Health portfolio and in turn meet the needs of the workforce shortfall in the NHS.

“We take great pride in training and supporting future healthcare professionals and HTQs will provide an alternative route to that outcome. Our HTQs will align to existing occupational standards and provide our students with entry-level competence and allow them to enter or return to their chosen profession or progress further in the higher education system. I can’t wait to see the first cohort of HTQ students join us.”

The Government has recently identified this skills-based system, similar to apprenticeships, as a method of incentivising employers to upskill existing staff in technical abilities relevant to their role, helping them to fill skills shortages. This has led to the creation of the Department for Education’s Higher Technical Education Provider Growth Fund, to which the University was one of approximately twelve successful education providers with an application for the current cycle.

Within the CATS Faculty, the three new courses will be in the field of Construction, taught by academics from the School of Computer Science & Technology.

Professor Jan Domin, Executive Dean of CATS, commented:

“I am delighted our Faculty is leading on the development of three HTQs in Construction. Through the new HTQs, our graduates will meet an important regional skills shortage across the East of England.

“In our region, construction output is expected to grow by 4% annually, with private housing expected to show the fastest sector growth, meaning it is vitally important that these skills gaps are filled to a high standard. With over 217,000 new job opportunities over the next five years expected in the field, we look forward to helping provide the workforce.”

The University has received funding for the Department for Education’s second of three cycles, from September 2021 – March 2022. Approved HTQ courses will be delivered to students from September 2023.