University Academy 92 (UA92) is a groundbreaking higher education institution co-founded by Lancaster University and the Class of ‘92. Based in Old Trafford, Manchester, UA92 is committed to making higher education accessible to all no matter the background, through its founding principles of accessibility, social mobility and inclusivity.
Reinforcing a New Mindset
UA92 undertakes its mission with conviction to ensure that the needs of today’s workforce are best met by people who can demonstrate what they can do, rather than simply what they know – and with an understanding that the digital skills divide is one that continues to hamper the progression of society and businesses alike.
“The biggest problem out there in the market clearly is around digital skills and upskilling the modern workforce,” explains Aaron Saxton, director of disruptive learning at UA92.
To help fill this gap, UA92 approaches its mission with the knowledge that those who haven’t always fit the university mold deserve the opportunity to benefit from the upward social mobility that education affords. They also understand that such future candidates have endless potential to offer the workforce. The learning experience UA92 offers focuses on the whole student, preparing students for the world of work by offering industry-led courses as well as character and personal development guidance, and financial support beyond traditional scholarships and government loans.
“We come at this with a different mindset about what education means to young people,” shares Saxton. “It’s about education, yes, but it’s also about attitude, character, resilience, mental health and how you pick yourself up.”
Supporting the Whole Student
UA92 is a CompTIA Academic Partner and uses the CompTIA certification suite – including CompTIA A+, CompTIA Cloud Essentials+, CompTIA Cloud+ and CompTIA Data+ – as key part of its apprenticeship program, bootcamps and degrees.
UA92’s passion for supporting the whole student is reflected in how they have chosen to design their IT programs. The bootcamp, for example, is offered either full or part-time, and an online modality means it is highly accessible for those who are busy with work, life and family. A combination of learning and hands-on practice ensures that the learning sticks.
Spark Innovation: CompTIA & UA92 from CompTIA on Vimeo.
Bringing IT to Life
UA92 students don’t just leave with a robust IT knowledge base and a credential that is highly lucrative to employers, but – thanks to the professional development coaching they experience — also with transferable skills that will serve them well wherever they go next.
Neil Uddin, a former British Army paratrooper who was medically discharged from service following an injury, saw an advertisement for the Skills for Life Bootcamp and decided to join.
“On day 1 of the bootcamp I didn’t know that much about “the cloud,” Uddin explained in a UA92 case study. “Now I can launch an EC2 virtual machine in a specific region around the globe! As well as this, I have worked on my coding skills and knowledge of computer languages, including Python … We’ve had time to focus on personal development ... I’m feeling positive about the prospect of a career in cloud engineering.”
The success of students like Uddin, Saxton believes, validates the efficacy of the skills-based and hands-on approach to teaching IT.
“What we’re seeing are students – even in the degree programs – who are learning as part of an academic program. But then guess what? They’re also using [CompTIA Certmaster Labs] to explore security, to explore how they deploy websites and get their hands on the concepts. It brings it to life,” shares Saxton. “It joins the dots. And what an incredible outcome that is for students, because not only do they get that degree or those credits, but they also get a globally recognized qualification. Our students love it.”
As for UA92’s relationship with CompTIA, Saxton explains that the magic is in a partnership based on mutual listening, and a relationship that’s grounded in a shared aspiration of making the IT workforce more accessible to people from all walks of life.
“It is a relationship, and a partnership and a friendship. We know they are here to genuinely support our programs, collaborate with us and have continued dialogue. That partnership is paramount, and we know that the values and culture of CompTIA are what really drive their philosophy when they’re creating their qualifications.”
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