The purpose of the BAPO Learner Reference Group is to co-create an approach that enables BAPO, the national professional body for the prosthetic and orthotic profession in the UK, to link more closely with learners enrolled on pathways to join the P&O workforce. In the first instance, we plan to bring together learner representatives from across the UK’s four P&O education providers to help shape an approach that’s meaningful and beneficial to learners, and manageable in the context of other demands on their time.
The term ‘learner’ is used to describe students registered on university-based programmes of study and apprentices pursuing their qualifications via an apprenticeship pathway. Learners will be registered on one of the following educational pathways:
- Level 3 technicians apprenticeship at the University of Derby
- Level 6 degree apprenticeship at the University of Derby
- Pre-registration MSc at Keele University
- BSc (Hons) at the University of Salford
- BSc (Hons) at the University of Strathclyde
The aims of the Learner Reference Group are to:
- Develop a sustainable approach that meets the needs and expectations of both the evolving learner community and BAPO as their professional body.
- Improve direct engagement and two-way communication between BAPO and the learner community.
- Improve BAPO’s awareness and understanding of issues impacting learners during their academic studies and while learning in practice settings.
- Explore the guidance and resources BAPO could provide for learners to support their journey towards joining the professional community, complementing and adding value to, rather than duplicating, those available from education providers.
- Create a space for the exchange of ideas and collaboration to enhance learner journeys and experiences.
- Provide learners with opportunities to develop in the leadership pillar of practice, and to get to know and help to shape their professional body.
- Support the building of professional networks and founding of lasting relationships with BAPO.
The first meeting of the new BAPO Learner Reference Group was help on January 29th, 2025.
Along with agreeing the purpose, aims, and guiding principles for the running of the group, other points of discussion focused on:
💡the potential for BAPO to supporting networking between learners – that’s members of the Learner Reference Group and the learner community more widely
💡the potential to work collaboratively to break down barriers to accessing variable and valuable learning opportunities linked to both academic and practice-based contexts
💡creating opportunities to develop group members’ understanding of the relationship between BAPO and the four UK education providers, and the guidance, advice and support that BAPO offers to help shape their learning journeys
💡creating opportunities to develop group members’ understanding of the value of BAPO membership, and particularly understanding what student (learner) membership currently includes
💡 the potential to consider reviewing the BAPO student / learner membership offer with the Learner Reference Group in future
Watch this space for more information as the Learner Reference Group develops and unfolds.