For learners
Degree apprenticeships: What learners need to know
School leavers and existing employees considering an earn-and-learn degree pathway in Aotearoa New Zealand.
A practical, phase-by-phase guide covering everything a prospective or current degree apprentice needs to know — from deciding whether the model suits them, through to navigating the dual responsibilities of work and study, collecting workplace evidence, and contributing to the improvement of the programme for those who follow. Covers six phases: Align, Explore, Design, Deliver, Sustain, and Partner.
For employers
Degree apprenticeships: What employers need to know
Business owners, HR managers, team leaders and training coordinators at organisations considering or already running degree apprenticeships.
A comprehensive guide for employers covering how to assess organisational readiness, design a degree apprenticeship role, manage the dual admissions and recruitment process, set up training agreements and plans, support apprentices through delivery, track outcomes, and expand impact. Includes readiness self-assessment checklists, recruitment models, and partnership guidance across six phases.
Enabling framework
Degree-level apprenticeships enabling framework
Policymakers, government agencies (TEC, NZQA, Ministry of Education), Industry Skills Boards, tertiary education providers, professional bodies, and senior employer representatives.
A systems-change analysis identifying the policy, practice, funding, relational, governance, and cultural conditions required to make degree apprenticeships mainstream in New Zealand. For each of six conditions it diagnoses current gaps, proposes quick wins, and outlines bolder reform steps. Draws on pilot experience and international comparisons (UK, Germany, Austria, France, Netherlands, Australia).
For providers
Degree apprenticeships: What tertiary education providers need to know
Tertiary education providers — universities, institutes of technology, polytechnics, and private training establishments — exploring or delivering degree apprenticeship programmes.
A guide for tertiary education providers setting out how to design, accredit, and deliver degree apprenticeship programmes in partnership with employers. Covers the six-phase lifecycle (Align through Partner), including how to structure work-integrated assessment, manage employer relationships, support diverse learners, and build sustainable programme models. Full structured content is available in the readiness-builder guide library.
Attribution & licence
The four documents on this page were authored by Brenden Mischewski and published by ConCOVE Tūhura. They are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You are free to share and adapt the material with appropriate credit.