The impact of disruptive events on built environment degree apprenticeship delivery - A case study of COVID-19

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to understand the impact of the covid-19 pandemic disruptive event on delivery of the built environment degree apprentice programme in higher education in the UK and identify the key strategies to minimise the effect. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was used to collect and analyse data from a sample set of built environment degree apprenticeship stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews was conducted with seventeen key stakeholders to collate emerging themes on their perceptions of the impacts of the pandemic and strategies to adopted to minimise it. Findings: The investigation reveals that the core impacts of covid-19 on the apprentices training programme are lack of access to the site, furlough, limited access to off the job training, limited interaction with tutors and peers, too much time on the screen, limited pastoral care and lack of contact with a mentor. The census from the research participants is that despite the development and gain with the various virtual platform used during pandemic physical meetings with their mentor remain pivotal to the built environment apprentices learning and training. Practical implications: The results provide relevant stakeholders and actors supporting degree apprentices training programmes (training providers and employers, among others) with the information needed to improve the delivery of Built Environment degree apprenticeship training programmes during a disruptive event covid-19. Originality: The principal scientific significance of the current study to education and training in the built environment lies in its presentation of empirical evidence on the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on degree apprentice's programme in the built environment and strategies to minimise the effect, which has not been documented.