Delivering “skills first” Degree Apprenticeships in the Era of AI

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Delivering “skills first” Degree Apprenticeships in the Era of AI

The AI Era demands “skills first” apprenticeships – Level 6 Digital & Technology Solutions Professional

The Development Manager

As we enter 2024, I am thrilled to share some exciting news about our digital apprenticeship programme at Microsoft and the approach we are taking for the Level 6 Digital & Technology Solutions Professional degree apprenticeship program.

We have entered an unprecedented time in the need to reflect seriously on: how we teach skills, how learners learn skills, and fundamentally, what are the skills our future workforce will need?” How do apprentices acquire the knowledge, skills, and competencies on a degree apprenticeship that will allow them to thrive in the era of AI?


These are things I have been working through as we look to reimagine the Level 6 Digital & Technology Solutions Professional Apprenticeship and the art of the possible. What is a skills first approach to a degree apprenticeship and why is it more important than ever?

To help us answer this internally, we are delighted to be partnering with TDM, a leading provider of tech and digital apprenticeships, to offer our apprentices the opportunity to learn, apply and develop next gen tech skills using their degree apprenticeship program.

TDM shares our vision and values and have delivered over 1,000 high-quality apprenticeships in the past five years, with a 90% completion rate and a 95% satisfaction rate among employers and learners.

We are so excited to unleash our apprentices on the range of Microsoft product, tools and resources, such as Copilot, Microsoft Azure, Power Platform, and GitHub Copilot, as well as training and certification. They will also be able to apply their skills and knowledge in real-world projects and scenarios, such as creating chatbots, developing web apps, or automating workflows, supported by TDM’s expert coaches and trainers and our own Microsoft managers and mentors.

At Microsoft, we believe in a skills-first approach to apprenticeship design. We want our apprentices to:

  • Develop the skills that are in high demand in the digital economy;
  • Demonstrate them through the work they do as well as the industry-recognised standards and assessments;
  • Have a growth mindset and a passion for learning to continually develop technical, personal and cognitive skills.

We are looking forward to working with TDM and our apprentices to create a positive impact on the world. Welcome to the Microsoft family TDM.

 

Rebecca King, UK Apprentice Lead, Microsoft