The learner-earner journey and bridging the digital skills gap
Publication date: 17 Nov 2025
The project team delves into the perspectives of both graduates and employers to tackle the critical challenge of the digital skills gap.
Graduate and employer viewpoints
With a much-reported gap between the digital skills demonstrated by graduates and those desired by employers, how can university departments best equip students to enter a workplace with rapidly-evolving technological demands? What does good practice in digitally-upskilling learners – ready for them to become earners – look like?
This project considers both employer and graduate expectations of the learner-earner journey, as well as how effective various teaching and assessment mechanisms designed to develop digital skills are.
It will provide actionable advice to support graduates to leave higher education work-ready, while also aiding and inspiring those responsible for programme delivery.
Project approach
The project team explored this topic by:
- Documenting and critically reviewing seven case studies that evaluate digital skill development through differing teaching and assessment methodologies.
- Running workshops, seven with graduates and seven with employers, to co-create an understanding of the learner-earner journey and consider the approaches that enable students to successfully develop digital skills. These workshops will use a ‘futurespective’ approach, asking participants to imagine themselves in a future that has a reduced skills gap and to ‘look back’ to consider how to get there – encouraging innovative thinking and new ideas.
Project outputs
A project report including:
- A series of case studies demonstrating methods that positively support the learner-earner journey, also evaluating different teaching and assessment mechanisms.
- A good practice guide that shares tips and effective approaches to enable graduates to successfully progress into employment.
Project blogs
Developing the learner-earner journey and bridging the digital skills gap
The team discuss the project so far, including the outcomes of a series of online workshops.
Project report
Project lead: Northumbria University
Project partners: Abertay University, University of Bath, Cardiff University, Ulster University, University of Warwick, and London Metropolitan University
Other Collaborative Enhancement Projects
QAA supports a number of projects every year, covering a range of topics and interest areas. Each is led by a QAA Member, working in collaboration with other members institutions. You can find more information on all projects, and access resources and outputs, on our website.