The RAF foundation degrees: Meeting employer need – a consortium approach

Abstract

This Foundation Degree development involved assembling a consortium of Higher Education Institutions who could work together to develop bespoke a Foundation Degrees (Arts) in Business, and in Leadership and Management, to be offered as an elective learning opportunity to personnel within the Royal Air Force. As a development it clearly predates the Leitch Report, but nevertheless addresses many of the key issues raised and provides a context for discussion about how the university sector can work with large employers. This paper argues that the success of the consortium is founded in the shared vision of co-operative, rather than competitive working, the leadership of the RAF and their close involvement in all aspects of the consortium, together with the involvement of quality and finance managers from each HEI. In many respects it is a unique intervention by the HE sector in the field of FD provision and joint-working with clients.