QAA responds to Medr's apprenticeships consultation

QAA has published its response to a consultation on the Apprenticeship Programme in Wales launched by Medr, Wales's Commission for Tertiary Education and Research.

QAA's response emphasises its support for the proposed principles, particularly the programme's focus on flexibility, responsiveness and inclusivity.

QAA recommends that quality should be made more explicit in the proposals, ensuring that programme design and delivery are underpinned by clear expectations for standards, learner experience and continuous improvement.

Among other points, QAA also recommends a greater emphasis on employer engagement as a principle in its own right, a clarification of progression pathways, and the embedding of digital responsiveness.

Our response articulates a vision for the future of apprenticeship provision in Wales as a coherent, all-age system supported by transparent mechanisms for credit transfer, demonstrating clear evidence of widening participation, and underpinned by enhancement-led practice, the consistent assurance of standards, and the effective use of data, feedback and self-evaluation processes.

QAA's full consultation response is available on our website.

The new Apprenticeships Programme in Wales is scheduled to start on 1 August 2027.