As proposed cuts to higher education spending threaten future numbers of university places and risk higher study fees, 39 employees have last week graduated from Tesco's Retail Foundation Degree, with the qualification earned while studying on the job.
The graduates represent the second group of students to complete the 'learn while you earn' degree that offers clear career progression and, most notably, the prospect of studying without debt.
Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Corporate and Legal Affairs Director at Tesco, said
"There can be no doubt that today's graduates are entering a market where getting a job is extremely tough. The Tesco Foundation Degree offers employees the opportunity to gain a degree whilst working and earning. The students graduating today are ambitious employees who have clear career progression and have displayed fantastic determination and organisation by studying for a degree while working full time.
"Learning on the job forms an important part of the degree course and subsequently allows employees to study without the associated cost and potential debt that many students now face.
"Above all, the Retail Foundation Degree allows people who otherwise might not have been able to afford to study for a traditional university degree to gain a recognised qualification and further their skills."
Studying for up to 12 hours a week alongside a full time job, students are now graduating from this two year course with an average salary of £23,539 - greater than the average starting salary of graduates from more traditional university degree courses*.
Run in conjunction with Manchester Metropolitan University and University of the Arts London, the Tesco Foundation Degree teaches students a range of skills that can be transferred across the retail sector. Skills include understanding consumer behaviour, in-store marketing, retail law and retail leadership. The study costs for each employee are paid for by Tesco and each student can take two days of paid study leave per term.
Chris Collins, 20 a recent Graduate of the Tesco Foundation Degree said,
"After my A levels, I didn't want to go to university as I didn't fancy the debt. I worked part-time while I was at college and got used to the money. I applied online for the Tesco Foundation Degree. It was a challenge to balance study and work but I did find that the knowledge I gained on the course helped me in my role instore. It has given me a lot of confidence and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to move on."
Source: Tesco
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