The University of Staffordshire has secured a new five-year contract with the Royal Air Force to deliver Foundation Degrees to up to 1,500 serving personnel.
The deal marks the second consecutive contract the university has won to provide the training, following an earlier agreement under which around 900 RAF personnel completed Foundation Degree programmes. The first intake under the new contract will begin in September.
Serving personnel will study part-time alongside their military careers, with Foundation Degrees available in Mechanical Systems, Aeronautical Systems, Electronic and Telecommunications, General Engineering, Intelligence and Cyber Security, and Computer Science and Technology.
The courses are also open to eligible Royal Navy and Army personnel, other RAF learners, and Ministry of Defence veterans and reservists. All programmes are registered with the Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Scheme (ELCAS).
Professor Philip Plowden, Interim Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at the University of Staffordshire, said: “Being trusted with a second contract by the RAF speaks to the strength of what our teams have built together. These programmes give serving personnel a genuine route to higher-level qualifications alongside their careers, and this new contract lets us extend that to even more of them.”
Lisa Davies, Head of Business Engagement at the University of Staffordshire, added: “This partnership has grown year on year – from around 900 personnel through our first Foundation Degree programmes with the RAF, to a new contract now supporting up to 1,500. That growth reflects real trust, and the breadth of what the University of Staffordshire can offer across engineering, cyber, computing and beyond.”
Wing Commander David Oatley, from the Engineering Profession Advisors Team, Royal Air Force, said: “This contract reflects the strength of our partnership with the University of Staffordshire in developing the technical skills our personnel need across Engineering, Cyber and Computing. We look forward to continuing to work together to support our people’s professional development.”
Daily Focus recently reported that the university had secured a six-year agreement with the British Army to deliver Level 6 Leadership and Management apprenticeship training to more than 700 Army personnel.
