University of Cumbria national success at ‘Oscars of Higher Education’ – Times Higher Education Awards 2024

The University of Cumbria is celebrating after the national Times Higher Education Awards 2024. 

Its trail-blazing paramedic science degree apprenticeship scheme was named winner of the Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year.

Congratulations also go to Cumbrian peer Lord Bragg of Wigton, an Honorary Fellow of the university, who received the Outstanding Achievement Award.

The university’s paramedic science degree apprenticeship allows existing ambulance staff to upskill to become qualified, frontline paramedics within two years. Addressing significant workforce shortages, University of Cumbria is supporting seven of 11 English ambulance trusts to deliver the paramedic science degree apprenticeship. It is also expanding further to help Manx Care to offer similar opportunities to its staff on the Isle of Man. 

Widening participation is a key agenda of the degree apprenticeship, as it allows students entry via non-traditional routes as well as the opportunity of a paramedic career to people without a prior degree and to those who need to earn while they learn.  

A quarter of apprentices have additional support needs. Nevertheless, University of Cumbria has achieved a high success rate with 79 per cent achieving a first or upper second (2:1) class degree. Also, 96.2 per cent go on to paramedic roles after completing the programme. 

Above: First University of Cumbria paramedic degree apprenticeship graduates celebrating in July 2023 

The judges said they were “so impressed by this project because it delivers for students, for the local community and for the NHS – it is win, win, win!” 

“In a strong category, the project shone through because of the clear success metrics, because of the focus on mature students as well as those with specific learning difficulties and because of the scalability,” the panel said. 

Above: University of Cumbria team collecting the Widening Participation award on stage at the THE Awards 2024

In addition, Lord Bragg of Wigton, who is an Honorary Fellow of the university, was the recipient of one of the top awards of the night. 

The THE Outstanding Achievement Award recognises Lord Bragg’s two and a half decades at the helm of BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time, which brings university expertise on topics spanning history, science, philosophy and religion to audiences around the globe. 

Above: Lord Bragg, who is an Honorary Fellow of University of Cumbria, speaking at the 2024 THE Awards

Associate professor in paramedicine Tom Davidson, director of the Centre of Excellence in Paramedic Practice at University of Cumbria, collected the award. 

Tom said: “We’re particularly proud about how the apprenticeship can have an impact on individuals who may’ve never had the opportunity to access university before. 

“It is wonderful to see how they are accessing and progressing in higher education through a non-traditional route, so many diverse backgrounds, and the success rate they are enjoying which all supports and contributes to the NHS workforce regionally and nationally.” 

The University of Cumbria is one of the largest providers of degree apprenticeships in the country, with more than 2,000 learners on apprenticeships in areas such as policing, forestry, nursing, diagnostic radiography, project management and senior leadership as well as paramedic science.  In June, the university’s apprenticeship provision was judged to be ‘Good’ by Ofsted. 

Seven years on from launching its first programmes, University of Cumbria is continuing to expand its degree apprenticeship offerings, and this year has already been awarded more than £600,000 to move into new areas of Youth Work, Digital User Experience (UX) and Creative Digital Design. 

Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell DL said: “We are very proud of our paramedic staff, apprenticeship team and professional services colleagues who, working alongside practitioners and partners, provide the NHS with hundreds of paramedics each year, right across the country. This award is most deserved, recognising a fantastic collective effort, which helps to ensure that those in need of help, often at times of crisis, have the expert help and support they need.” 

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the THE awards – dubbed the “Oscars of higher education” – which span 20 categories covering the full range of university activities. This year’s ceremony, focusing on achievements at UK and Irish institutions during 2022-23, was held at the ICC in Birmingham last night (Thursday 28 November 2024). 

John Gill, THE’s editor, said: “This anniversary year brought another record number of submissions detailing, as ever, a dazzling array of achievements from institutions, teams and individuals, and demonstrating that even though times are tough, the creativity and energy in UK and Irish universities remains undiminished.  

“It is a privilege for THE to have the role it does in celebrating the sector's successes, and on the occasion of our 20th anniversary we thank everyone who entered, and look forward to championing you for years to come.”  

ENDS