Radiography apprenticeships  at University of Cumbria: reflecting on what we have learnt so far

Timothy Hayward; Kimberley Bradshaw; Laura Hemmings; Samantha Mataka; Michael Youll

Radiography apprenticeships at University of Cumbria: reflecting on what we have learnt so far

Medical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: The radiography ‘top-up’ degree apprenticeship programme at the University of Cumbria has successfully created a unique opportunity for Assistant Practitioners to progress their careers. Building on the skills obtained through their foundation degree, students ‘earn as they learn’ to qualify for HCPC registration after 18 months of intense study. Commonly, students on this pathway remark that they are not academic and have reservations about being able to complete the programme. Despite this, students consistently achieve excellent results, evidenced in the programme’s attainment data.

Purpose:
- Discuss the importance of radiography apprenticeship provision in higher education.
- Provide an overview of the radiography ‘top up’ pathway at the University of Cumbria.
- Reflect on our own journey with the programme and what we, as a team, have learnt so far.
- Reflect on plans for the future.
- Celebrate our student success stories.

Summary of Content:
This submission aims to reflect on our apprenticeship programme, the approaches we utilise in our teaching and reflect on the success rates of our apprenticeship students. As well as discussing the importance of radiography apprenticeship provision, we aim to share the lessons we have learnt from running our own programme, in order to share best practice and new ideas with other educators.

[Poster abstract no. P076]

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 2 Jun 2025
Event	UK Imaging and Oncology Congress - ACC Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom Duration: 2 Jun 2025 → 4 Jun 2025 https://www.ukio.org.uk/programme-2025/

Conference

Conference	UK Imaging and Oncology Congress
Abbreviated title	UKIO 2025
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Liverpool
Period	2/06/25 → 4/06/25
Internet address	https://www.ukio.org.uk/programme-2025/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education

Access to Document

Hayward_RadiographyApprenticeshipsAt_ABSTRACTFinal published version, 346 KBLicence: CC BY

https://www.ukio.org.uk/wp-live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abstract_Book-Final.pdfLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@conference{36c990cd0473490b986c965632a86d09,

title = "Radiography apprenticeships at University of Cumbria: reflecting on what we have learnt so far",

abstract = "Background: The radiography {\textquoteleft}top-up{\textquoteright} degree apprenticeship programme at the University of Cumbria has successfully created a unique opportunity for Assistant Practitioners to progress their careers. Building on the skills obtained through their foundation degree, students {\textquoteleft}earn as they learn{\textquoteright} to qualify for HCPC registration after 18 months of intense study. Commonly, students on this pathway remark that they are not academic and have reservations about being able to complete the programme. Despite this, students consistently achieve excellent results, evidenced in the programme{\textquoteright}s attainment data. Purpose: - Discuss the importance of radiography apprenticeship provision in higher education. - Provide an overview of the radiography {\textquoteleft}top up{\textquoteright} pathway at the University of Cumbria. - Reflect on our own journey with the programme and what we, as a team, have learnt so far. - Reflect on plans for the future. - Celebrate our student success stories. Summary of Content: This submission aims to reflect on our apprenticeship programme, the approaches we utilise in our teaching and reflect on the success rates of our apprenticeship students. As well as discussing the importance of radiography apprenticeship provision, we aim to share the lessons we have learnt from running our own programme, in order to share best practice and new ideas with other educators. [Poster abstract no. P076]",

author = "Timothy Hayward and Kimberley Bradshaw and Laura Hemmings and Samantha Mataka and Michael Youll",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "2",

language = "English",

note = "UK Imaging and Oncology Congress, UKIO 2025 ; Conference date: 02-06-2025 Through 04-06-2025",

url = "https://www.ukio.org.uk/programme-2025/",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Radiography apprenticeships at University of Cumbria

T2 - UK Imaging and Oncology Congress

AU - Hayward, Timothy

AU - Bradshaw, Kimberley

AU - Hemmings, Laura

AU - Mataka, Samantha

AU - Youll, Michael

PY - 2025/6/2

Y1 - 2025/6/2

N2 - Background: The radiography ‘top-up’ degree apprenticeship programme at the University of Cumbria has successfully created a unique opportunity for Assistant Practitioners to progress their careers. Building on the skills obtained through their foundation degree, students ‘earn as they learn’ to qualify for HCPC registration after 18 months of intense study. Commonly, students on this pathway remark that they are not academic and have reservations about being able to complete the programme. Despite this, students consistently achieve excellent results, evidenced in the programme’s attainment data. Purpose: - Discuss the importance of radiography apprenticeship provision in higher education. - Provide an overview of the radiography ‘top up’ pathway at the University of Cumbria. - Reflect on our own journey with the programme and what we, as a team, have learnt so far. - Reflect on plans for the future. - Celebrate our student success stories. Summary of Content: This submission aims to reflect on our apprenticeship programme, the approaches we utilise in our teaching and reflect on the success rates of our apprenticeship students. As well as discussing the importance of radiography apprenticeship provision, we aim to share the lessons we have learnt from running our own programme, in order to share best practice and new ideas with other educators. [Poster abstract no. P076]

AB - Background: The radiography ‘top-up’ degree apprenticeship programme at the University of Cumbria has successfully created a unique opportunity for Assistant Practitioners to progress their careers. Building on the skills obtained through their foundation degree, students ‘earn as they learn’ to qualify for HCPC registration after 18 months of intense study. Commonly, students on this pathway remark that they are not academic and have reservations about being able to complete the programme. Despite this, students consistently achieve excellent results, evidenced in the programme’s attainment data. Purpose: - Discuss the importance of radiography apprenticeship provision in higher education. - Provide an overview of the radiography ‘top up’ pathway at the University of Cumbria. - Reflect on our own journey with the programme and what we, as a team, have learnt so far. - Reflect on plans for the future. - Celebrate our student success stories. Summary of Content: This submission aims to reflect on our apprenticeship programme, the approaches we utilise in our teaching and reflect on the success rates of our apprenticeship students. As well as discussing the importance of radiography apprenticeship provision, we aim to share the lessons we have learnt from running our own programme, in order to share best practice and new ideas with other educators. [Poster abstract no. P076]

M3 - Poster

Y2 - 2 June 2025 through 4 June 2025

ER -