A graduate apprenticeship scheme enabling people to study for university-level qualifications while in paid work will expand to more than 1,300 places.
The 800 target for the current financial year was exceeded, and Fair Work Secretary Derek Mackay announced it will rise by 500 for 2019/20.
Skills Development Scotland develops the apprenticeships along with industry, and further and higher education, to enable workers to study up to Master’s degree level.
Apprenticeships on offer include subjects such as engineering, business, IT and cyber security – and will expand to include data science this year.
The vast majority of Scotland’s universities offer graduate apprenticeship places, with Aberdeen University a recent recruit.
Mr Mackay said: “Apprenticeships are a vital piece of the jigsaw to improve Scotland’s productivity, benefiting individuals, employers and the wider economy.
“That is why we are investing in more apprenticeship opportunities than ever before, ensuing more people benefit from work-based learning.
“We remain firmly on track to achieve our ambitious target of 30,000 new apprenticeship starts by 2020, with a focus on higher level apprenticeships.
“By increasing the number of Graduate Apprenticeships available for 2019/20 to more than 1,300, more people will have the opportunity to study while they earn and gain first-hand experience of their industry.”
“Scottish apprenticeships now allow employers to introduce young people to their business while they are still at school and keep them in their workforce until they are degree qualified.”
