Research conducted by Lord Adonis suggests that Nissan apprenticeships have become more competitive than a place at Oxford University.
The report, “More and Better Jobs: North-East International” revealed that with 1,000 applications for 20 places, the candidate’s chance of success is just 2%.
By contrast, Oxford receives on average 17,200 applications for 3,200 places, giving an approximately 18% chance of a place. In fact, in recent years, Oxford has seen a slight decline in applications – down 5% from 2010 to 2011.
However, as well as highlighting the quality of the apprenticeship programme offered by Nissan, these statistics also draw attention to a lack of opportunities in the vocational sector. Adonis commented that “Nissan’s apprenticeship programme is regarded as one of the best in the country so you would expect to see it oversubscribed, but it is scandalous that so few apprenticeship places are available at companies across this region.”
He hopes to create 13,000 apprenticeships in the North-East every year in order to “get young people on the road to a job, not the road to the dole.” His research focused specifically on the North-East: he is keen to see a higher proportion of the population going on the higher education as well as vocational work.
Claiming that these internships are harder than Oxford University could be a controversial statement. However, on closer inspection, it seems that they were a provocative statement rather than a genuine comparison between the two institutions. His allegation that “The competition for places is unbelievably fierce, more even than for Oxford University’ is more to do with numbers than application process.
Quality and quantity are not necessarily synonymous, as confirmed by Adam Tyndell, Lord Adonis’s Assistant who alleged that “Andrew was referring to the number of applicants per place, only.”
Jonathon Metzer, Co-Chair of Oxford University Labour Club, was supportive of Adonis’ research. “Lord Adonis is absolutely right to highlight the need to expand apprenticeships so that there are clear pathways to success for less academically-inclined people and I strongly hope that his ideas will gather cross-party support.”
Metzer also confirmed that Adonis will be speaking at the OULC on Monday of 3rd Week.
