Learning at Work: Why Higher Ed Is Leaning Into Apprenticeships

See why and how apprenticeships are gaining momentum and what it will take to help them truly scale, not just grow.

For generations, apprenticeships were most closely associated with the skilled trades. Today, colleges, employers, and workforce partners are applying the approach across fields including teaching, nursing, cybersecurity, and other high-demand careers. In a recent Inside Higher Ed webcast inspired by its Apprenticeships: Learning at Work series, higher education and workforce leaders explored how these models can expand access, strengthen connections between learning and work, and create more affordable pathways to a degree.

Reach University President Joe E. Ross joined the conversation as a thought leader in this growing movement, bringing Reach’s experience with the Apprenticeship Degree to the discussion. At Reach, the workplace serves as an important part of the learning experience, allowing working adults to apply what they learn while making progress toward a degree. The conversation also explored what institutions can learn as these pathways grow, from building strong employer partnerships and serving rural and underserved communities to creating work-integrated approaches that connect higher education more closely to the realities of today’s workforce.