Adrian Anderson, Darryll Bravenboer and David Hemsworth
To date, few universities have been involved in the Government‐funded drive to expand higher apprenticeships across England. Universities have a track record of expertise and…
Abstract
Purpose
To date, few universities have been involved in the Government‐funded drive to expand higher apprenticeships across England. Universities have a track record of expertise and innovation in professional and work‐based learning that can significantly contribute to the higher‐level skills agenda and could have a pivotal role in the rapidly growing initiative to develop higher apprenticeship programmes. The purpose of this paper is to outline the potential contribution universities could make to higher apprenticeship and the potential barriers to university engagement.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides an analysis of skills and higher education policy, initiatives and related research in England as the context for university involvement in higher apprenticeship. A case study is used to illustrate the benefits of and barriers to university involvement, including an uneven funding policy playing field for universities and misconceptions regarding professional competence and practice‐based higher‐level learning.
Findings
The paper illustrates the potential benefits university involvement in higher apprenticeship could deliver for employers and learners by supporting individual career progression and social mobility, and by providing employers and employees with clear and cost effective work‐based pathways to management roles. It concludes that the current barriers to university involvement may result in a missed opportunity to maximise value from public investment in the workforce development expertise of universities, redeployed to realise higher apprenticeship innovation.
Originality/value
The authors believe this paper is the only academic analysis of the value of and barriers to university involvement in the current Westminster Government flagship Higher Apprenticeship programme. The case study included has not featured in any other academic journal.
Details
Keywords
Grant Alexander Wilson, Jason Jogia and Adrian Pitariu
This work examines the impact of financialization and vertical integration on renter-perceived property owner effectiveness.
Abstract
Purpose
This work examines the impact of financialization and vertical integration on renter-perceived property owner effectiveness.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a sample of 1,186 renters in the US, the UK and Canada, the research addresses gaps in the literature regarding the implications of financialization and vertical integration on renters.
Findings
In contrast to previous work that shows the negative implications of financialization, the results indicate that financialization is positively correlated with renter-perceived property owner effectiveness, challenging the prevailing narrative that it strictly benefits shareholders and the financial elite. Vertical integration’s effect on renter-perceived property owner effectiveness was also shown to be positive and significant, enhancing the existing vertical integration literature that has not focused on real estate. A post-hoc interaction analysis revealed the benefits of vertical integration on renter sentiment are greater among highly financialized firms.
Practical implications
The study offers managerial considerations for property owners seeking to enhance renter sentiment and satisfaction as well as contributes to real estate strategy and management literature.
Originality/value
These results are novel, as previous research has not empirically shown financialization to elicit benefits for broader stakeholder groups.