Can degree apprenticeships overcome barriers and improve diversity in IT?
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Authors
Cleland, S.
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I
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Issue Date
2024
Peer-reviewed status
Type
Conference paper
Abstract
This paper aims to demonstrate that degree apprenticeships can improve diversity in the IT workforce and help to overcome
barriers faced by New Zealand priority learners which deter them from engaging in higher levels of tertiary education. UK
degree apprenticeships are now well established and the impact these have had on social mobility and improving
participation in higher education by their disadvantaged communities is investigated. Early studies identified barriers to
participation and initiatives were designed to address these. Recent UK studies show positive impacts on social mobility,
increased diversity of apprentices and solid increases in productivity. New Zealand priority learners and the barriers they
face are discussed and significant parallels to the barriers faced by disadvantaged groups in the UK are found. Successful
New Zealand initiatives are examined and their common positive factors of mentorship, role modelling, and financial
support could be fulfilled at scale by degree apprenticeship pathways
Citation
Cleland, S. (2024). Can degree apprenticeships overcome barriers and improve diversity in IT? 15th Annual Conference of Computing and Information Technology Research and Education New Zealand (CITRENZ2024) (pp. 7 pages.). https://doi.org/10.34074/ctz.248