On the job teaching for on the job learners: An insight into PGT degree apprenticeships and on-line learning.

We present the Department of Computer Science’s response to the University’s strategic drive to grow its PGT portfolio with courses that support students studying off-campus. An integral part of our response has been through the development of on-line remote courses. In particular, we remodelled our existing MSc Computer Science course to engage with two different types of learners. The first was through a level 7 degree apprenticeship course targeted at part-time learners currently employed and looking to upskill their digital skills. The second was primarily targeted at international science-based graduates who are looking to acquire some digital skills to complement their initial degree. We reflect upon the challenges of developing a learning environment in partnership with external collaborators. In the context of degree apprenticeships our collaborators were the employers seeking to utilise their apprenticeship levy to develop their staff (and consequently our part-time students). For our international students, the collaborator was an external e-learning partner who provided on-line experience, a platform, a pedagogic discourse and context that we were required to engage with in order to enhance the student journey. This paper reflects upon the pedagogic, managerial and organisational challenges (and their solutions) that this pedagogic development presents.