Partnerships and the Consortia Approach to United Kingdom Foundation Degrees: A Case Study of Benefits and Pitfalls

The Foundation Degree was introduced into the United Kingdom awards system by the Government in 2000 as part of a wider strategy to widen participation and to enhance the development of vocational awards at higher education level. The award was controversially called a "degree," despite the fact it was of only 2 years duration and not at honours degree level. This appears to fly in the face of the European Bologna Declaration. At the heart of the Government's vision for this degree was the concept of partnerships involving higher education, further education and business, in consortia-based development and operation of programmes. The authors examine the concepts of partnership and consortia, and the role they have played in the introduction of the Foundation Degree in the United Kingdom. They focus on the key players including national agencies, educational institutions, employers and students in order to examine the benefits and pitfalls, which can be identified in partnership and consortia arrangements in the development and delivery of vocational awards.