Success of ‘accelerated Degrees’ recognised in North West Construction Awards
Wednesday 23 May 2018
NEW 'accelerated' degrees in Built Environment disciplines are proving a hit with industry after the scheme was shortlisted for an award.
The benefits to students are clear with around 80 attracted to the new all-year calendar when launched in 2016 and numbers growing.
Now, industry has shown it is similarly impressed by shortlisting the initiative for a North West Construction Award, voted for in July 2018.
The ‘accelerated’ degrees – unique in the UK construction and property sectors - allow students to graduate one or two years earlier than with traditional degrees, a welcome boon for industry at a time when the Farmer Review and CITB reports point to acute skills shortages.
Three years in two
The ‘accelerated full-time’ course packs all the learning opportunities of a traditional three year degree into two years, and for UK/EU students it’s also significantly cheaper than other routes. The ‘accelerated day release’ degree is studied for one day per week over three years and is ideally suited to students who are already working in construction
Andrew Fleming, Director of Admissions in the School of Built Environment, said: “These are innovative teaching programmes are co-created with the industry in terms of their content and delivery and are, we believe, seen as making a major contribution to creating a skilled, flexible and diverse workforce.”
“The School takes its responsibility to the industry very seriously and realised that a radical intervention was required if it was to effectively address the skills shortage within the industry caused in part by the economic slump and the rise in university fees.”
The School has invested heavily in the concept of a fast-paced, flexible and relevant mode of degree education. The two-year full time programmes incorporate 50% more modules per year at no additional annual cost thus saving 1/3 in tuition fees and a year of accommodation and subsistence expenses.
Diversity
The School has provided accelerated pathways of its Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Construction Project Management, Property Real Estate and Architectural Design and Technology degree programmes.
The new degrees are also increasing diversity with an average 26% female participation compared with 18% on the traditional degrees, and a higher proportion of mature students than their traditional counterparts.
Sam Cunliffe, who joined the BSc Building Surveying degree in September 2017 said: “This quicker route is particularly important in surveying because we’re looking at two years in practice before we can apply for our Chartered status.
“I thought it would be a great option for me and I’m really glad I’m doing it.”
Dean of School Professor Hisham Elkadi said; “We are delighted with this nomination and proud to provide leadership in innovative, relevant, and flexible learning environments. The accelerated pathways are another example of our contemporary response to industry needs and to our students’ learning needs.”
Find out more
Gareth Hollyman, Senior Press & PR Officer (Science)
0161 295 6895 g.b.hollyman@salford.ac.uk
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