Cambridge Education Group has announced that it is partnering with the UK’s Aston University to provide a pathway program for international students which will launch in September 2021.
The university is the most recent of 22 universities that CEG partners with in the UK, Europe and the US as part of its ONCAMPUS pathways portfolio.
Based on Aston University’s Birmingham city centre campus, the company said that the program “will offer international students the ideal first step in pursuing their studies in the UK”.
“Partnering with Aston University is an incredibly exciting development for CEG. Aston has a wide range of enviable industry-placement opportunities which will advantage students in a competitive graduate job market,” said Brendan Webb, co-CEO of CEG.
“Aston has a wide range of enviable industry-placement opportunities”
“We are proud to support international students to develop their academic and professional skills in a modern, employment-focused university in the heart of one of the UK’s most vibrant and multi-cultural cities.”
Through ONCAMPUS students will be able to study a wide range of both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in fields such as business, finance, engineering, health and law.
Aston University is particularly notable for its integrated placements, with 73% of students spending a year working as part of their courses.
“Our partnership… will help [students] to successfully transition to the university and adapt to university life here in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city,” said Alec Cameron, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Aston University.
“Students will have the opportunity to develop a core understanding of their chosen subject area, develop critical academic skills, improve their English language proficiency and prepare to start their study journey at Aston,” he continued.
“We have a longstanding reputation as a university which achieves high levels of employment for our graduates and our collaboration with CEG will enhance this.”
Webb told The PIE News that they were hopeful their first students would have the opportunity to study face to face but that plans were being made for the possibility of an online start if needed,
“Through our online division, CEG Digital, we have developed a gold standard online learning experience for students which is receiving excellent feedback from the current cohort of students being taught on this platform,” he said.
“Our message is one of complete flexibility and we want our students to feel comfortable to travel and study safely in the UK.”