edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U,announced an initiative with EdAid, the U.K.-based educational organization recently-appointed as a Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agency, and Northwest Education and Training LTD (NWEAT), EdAid’s newly-acquired apprenticeship training provider, to offer digital apprenticeships in high-demand tech fields. The program, which draws from the Department of Education’s (DfE) apprenticeship levy, combines NWEAT’s training expertise with edX’s online learning platform to help adults across the U.K. gain the skills and experience needed to pursue a career in tech.
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The program, delivered by NWEAT, via the edX platform, launches with an initial cohort of digital apprenticeships in software development beginning in August 2023. Additional apprenticeships in other key tech fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data analytics are in development for future starts. The 12 to 18-month-long apprenticeships will be funded by the DfE’s apprenticeship levy and will be made available at no cost to learners in partnership with companies across the U.K. Learners will dedicate 20% of their normal working hours to studying for the apprenticeship, with access to immersive training and ongoing assessment delivered by NWEAT alongside on-the-job training.
We’re thrilled to be working alongside edX and NWEAT supporting a new series of digital apprenticeships that will unlock flexible, alternative apprenticeship pathways into the jobs of the future,” said Tom Woolf, Founder and CEO of EdAid. “By providing learners with access to high-quality, industry-relevant education, we’re confident that it will help to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce that will deliver exceptional economic value to employers and the wider economy.”
These new offerings will help meet a critical demand for tech-focused apprenticeships in the U.K. at a time when the country faces a significant shortage of digital and technical skilled workers, with an estimated 600,000 vacancies per year. Via the new apprenticeships, U.K. employers can draw from existing levy funds to create greater opportunities for business leaders to foster tech talent internally, reducing costly employee turnover and creating new opportunities to train and reduce their current workforce.
“At NWEAT, we are committed to providing learners with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the digital economy,” said Angela Owens, Managing Director of NWEAT. “Our exceptional track record as a training provider, combined with the technical expertise of edX and EdAid, will help to create a new generation of highly skilled and talented professionals who can make a real difference in the technology industry.”
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This new collaboration further underscores edX’s commitment to closing the skills gap in the U.K., where edX already has a separate initiative with the DfE, which includes the Department’s pledging up to £4.8M to fund 1,200 seats for a fully-online Skills Bootcamp in front-end web development. The boot camp is part of the DfE’s Skills for Life initiative, focused on investing in lifelong learning and skills training.
“edX is one of the world’s largest developers of tech talent, and by coming together with NWEAT and EdAid, even more learners will get access to the dynamic, immersive tech skills training needed to succeed in the digital economy,” said Anant Agarwal, edX Founder and Chief Platform Officer at 2U. “This new initiative aims to create a new generation of professionals who are equipped to tackle the challenges of the 21st century and make a real impact on businesses across the U.K.”
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