Briefing: The role of higher-education apprenticeship in apprentices’ mental health and well-being

This briefing considers the roles of apprenticeship delivery features in the mental health and well-being (MHW) of apprentices in higher education, arguing that there is a need for empirical research in this area. This stems from the very little (if not no) attention that the area has received. Some of the recommended empirical investigations include whether or not the influence of the apprenticeship delivery features on the MHW of apprentices varies because of the differences in industries – for example, construction, environmental sciences and healthcare. If this is the case, to what extent is it applicable? There is also a need to understand the extent to which the personal characteristics of apprentices impact on their MHW. This study also shows that the MHW of apprentices is likely to improve if learning and teaching strategies in universities are better connected (or go hand-in-hand) with work-based learning or activities. However, this is subject to investigation. The proposed research will contribute to the limited knowledge relating to the mental health of future professionals (including apprentices) that are currently studying in higher-education institutions.