UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 14 OCTOBER 2009
Birmingham City University and the UK's leading builders' merchant, Jewson, has launched the first ever Foundation Degree in Builders' Merchanting.
The degree which has been in development for almost two years, was launched at the House of Commons on Tuesday 13October, which was attended by Ian Lucas MP, Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform. Further cementing its relationship with Birmingham City University, Jewson has also launched a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Strategy to run in tandem with the new Foundation Degree.
The Foundation Degree is aimed at new and existing Branch Managers and Assistant Branch Managers, who have completed Jewson's in-house Potential Branch Manager programme, and will be delivered through face-to-face modules, e-learning and telephone conference calls. The 14 month course will be supported by Birmingham City University lecturers and the Jewson training department, culminating in a major project presentation where students will be required to demonstrate creative thinking that has benefitted the business.The Jewson Foundation Degree learning modules include management and leadership, law for merchants, customer service and marketing, and personal professional development.
David Tidmarsh, Vice Chancellor of Birmingham City University, said: "We are very pleased to be working with Jewson to deliver this unique qualification. This collaboration highlights the University's focus on teaching practical skills and providing courses that have professional relevance that make our graduates highly employable. The University is proud of its many industry partnerships and our association with Jewson is a welcome addition to the list of prestigious companies that we work with."
The partnership is the first of its kind for the construction sector and will deliver an innovative and entrepreneurial approach to education. The partnership was forged with the assistance of Foundation Degree Forward, a national body that supports the development and validation of high quality foundation degrees. The inaugural intake of 25 students from Jewson and its sister business Graham, a leading plumbers' merchant, are enrolled to start the specialist Jewson Foundation Degree from October 2009.
Students on the Foundation Degree are expected to commit to six hours of self directed study each week. Similar to any existing degree course and diploma delivered by Birmingham City University, students will graduate with nationally recognised qualifications. The Foundation Degree assessment comprises of delegate assessment sheets completed at the end of each face-to-face session, an online moderator observing submitted comments following web-based forums, two group teleconferencing modules per module, an electronic learning log to chart progress and the course is completed with a two-day report presentation
Ian Lucas, Business Minister with responsibility for construction said: "The launch of a skills based Foundation degree by Jewson is an example of how successful a partnership between industry and universities can be. I welcome this move by Jewson to invest in the skills of its workforce, particularly at a time when budgets are tight. This new Foundation degree will give those Jewson employees the higher level skills they need to not only get on themselves, and benefit from higher education, but also reap benefits for the company."
Peter Hindle MBE, Managing Director of Jewson and Chief executive of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK & Ireland, explains: "The Jewson Foundation Degree is an industry first and something that everyone throughout the business is extremely proud of. We recognise that investing in our people, particularly in today's challenging economic climate, is essential if we are to maintain our position as the UK's leading builders' merchant and ensure that Jewson emerges from the recession ahead of its competitors."
"The Jewson Foundation Degree will also reinforce the crucial role of the builders' merchant in helping the construction sector deliver a more sustainable built environment. It will further professionalise our involvement with the relevant supply-chains and ensure that our students are well-equipped to play a leading role in the future of the construction industry."
The Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Strategy begins in January 2010 and will welcome 18 students who will be experienced Branch Managers, The objective of the Jewson Post Graduate Diploma is to prepare delegates for the role of Area Director, where they will be responsible for multiple branches. Modules covered include organisational processes & lean management, leadership and change management, strategy & risk management, culminating with an intensive work based project.
Added by on October 14, 2009