Ofsted inspectors visited the University earlier this year and their report, published this week, has highlighted how the University’s professional apprenticeships are supporting industry by meeting skills needs as well as helping more people access higher education.
Teesside University is one of the largest higher education providers of apprenticeships in the country with more than 2,500 students studying on one of the 40-plus apprenticeships offered by the University.
The University was first inspected by Ofsted in 2019 when it also achieved an Outstanding rating for its higher apprenticeships.
In the intervening years Teesside University has grown its apprenticeship provision substantially, and professional apprenticeships are now a core part of its strategy, with apprentices accounting for more than one in ten learners at Teesside.
The latest inspection took place over four days in January, and key findings from the report include:
For many apprentices, the experience has a transformational impact on their careers and lives
Teesside University’s grading of Outstanding follows its success in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) where it was awarded a Gold rating across all areas.
The University is now one of only three higher education institutions in the country to achieve both a TEF Gold and an Ofsted Outstanding rating.
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Paul Croney OBE, said: “As a University which is dedicated to changing lives and economies, it gives me great pride and pleasure to receive this independent verification of the significant impact of our apprenticeship provision.
“By delivering an alternative pathway into higher education for students, our Professional Apprenticeships are helping more people to benefit from the transformative opportunities provided by higher education.
“At the same time, by supporting employers with the skills needed to ensure their business thrives, they are playing a major role in the economic growth of the Tees Valley and beyond.”
Jo Burgess, Director of Professional Apprenticeships at Teesside University, added: “Teesside University is now one of the largest higher education providers of apprenticeships in the country, and to consistently deliver outstanding apprenticeships across so many different standards, relies on forging extremely strong partnerships between the University, the employer and the apprentice.
“This fantastic Ofsted inspection result is testament to the hard work of everybody involved in creating those partnerships.
"We have worked extremely closely with our partners to ensure that the apprenticeships that we deliver meet those needs, enabling our apprentices to succeed and thrive in their careers and make a real difference in the workplace.”