The Open University (OU) Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship provides the knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to becoming a professional Systems Thinking Practitioner.

Graduates from the programme will be able to apply systems thinking in practice, creating leaders and managers capable of making strategy, managing change and co-designing systems interventions in your organisation.

The knowledge, skills and behaviours acquired during the apprenticeship are useful in complex, wicked or messy situations requiring cross-boundary collaboration within and between organisations.

The Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship is a work-based learning programme that integrates academic study and work-based learning in a way that can be delivered flexibly around the demands of your workplace.

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Why choose The Open University’s Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship?

The Open University’s (OU) innovative delivery model offers significant benefits to employers:

• The apprenticeship is delivered flexibly around the demands of your organisation and requires minimal time away from the workplace, using our tutor-supported, rich-media online learning methods.
• Learning can be delivered simultaneously to various locations using our tried and trusted educational technology, providing a consistent programme for multiple staff.
• Since 2016, the OU has offered apprenticeships to help organisations grow their own talent. Apprentices can apply what they learn immediately into practice, for the positive benefit of the organisation.
• The OU has over 50 years’ experience of delivering flexible learning to fit around the lives of busy working adults and have a proven history of delivering work-based learning and apprenticeship programmes to organisations.

In the following video Dr. Natalie Foster, one of the academics on this programme, answers some frequently asked questions about the Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship explaining how it is delivered by the OU and how apprentices are supported.

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The apprenticeship is suitable for new and existing employees who are responsible for, or looking to progress into, managing projects, tasks or people and who will be gaining new skills as part of their apprenticeship.

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Below is a summary of the eligibility criteria as set by the government for apprentices. For further information, see the Government funding rules.

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In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria of the Apprenticeship funding rules and the Apprenticeship Standard requirements, applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree conferred by a UK university, or equivalent qualification or other relevant experience for postgraduate study. Such experience might comprise previous work towards making transformational change, drawing on conventional leadership and management capabilities, and/or systems thinking in practice capabilities.

Spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not the Apprentice's first language, we recommend a minimum overall score of 6 and minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

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The programme content and assessment strategy are mapped to the Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship standard.

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Stage 1	Stage 2	Assessment	Completion
Making strategy with systems thinking in practice.	Co-designing interventions with systems thinking in practice.	Learning outcome assessment. Knowledge, skills and behaviour assessment. English and maths assessment*. End-point assessment (EPA).	Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (Professional), awarded. Apprenticeship programme completed.
Managing change with systems thinking in practice.
Evidencing Systems thinking in practice.
English and maths (functional skills) development*

	Theory modules
	Practice modules
	EPA

 

* If required. The OU strongly recommends that these qualifications are achieved within the first 12 months of the apprenticeship in order to have maximum benefit on academic study and workplace development.

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The apprenticeship is made up of the following seven components:

1 - The initial assessment

Carried out by an Apprenticeship Programme Delivery Manager (APDM).

2 - Tutor-supported study modules

Apprentices build an understanding of the knowledge, skills and behaviours to take their leadership and management capabilities to a higher level. Associate Lecturers (academic tutors) will facilitate study, support learning and feedback, and mark module assessments. English and Maths Functional Skills tutors support the successful completion of these qualifications where an applicant is not able to provide evidence of prior attainment.

3 - The work-based learning module

Provides the framework for apprentices to gather, collate and present a portfolio of evidence that meets the Apprenticeship standard. It provides the stimulating link between academic study and practice, often involving apprentices critically reflecting on their learning and working practices. This module is facilitated by Practice Tutors, who support learning and feedback, as well as mark the module assessments.

4 - The summative portfolio

A record of evidence of apprentice’s application of knowledge, skills and behaviours in the workplace. The portfolio provides the means for demonstrating how apprentices have practically applied their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace.

5 - The project report

A substantive piece of work undertaken as part of the apprenticeship. It is an organisationally focused piece of work with real business benefits. The proposal will bring together elements of learning from different parts of the programme and enables apprentices to demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills learnt during their apprenticeship.

6 - The Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (Professional)

Awarded by The Open University.

7 - The End-point assessment (EPA)

Carried out by an Institute for Apprenticeships approved independent assessment organisation chosen by the employer. The EPA determines whether apprentices have successfully met the learning requirements of the Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard.

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An apprentice who has successfully completed the apprenticeship is eligible for recognition at Advanced Practitioner level of the professional body: Systems and Complexity in Organisations (SCiO).

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The Open University has the experience and support in place to help apprentices succeed and make a positive impact on practice.

In addition to designated account management support, the OU will deploy expert staff to support your organisation and your apprentices. They will work collaboratively with the relevant roles in your organisation:

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