Higher Education Tripartite Practitioners (HETPs) as an Emerging Role in UK Higher Education

This paper explores the emerging role of Higher Education Tripartite Practitioners (HETPs) in English Business Schools, crucial in bridging academia, regulation, and industry within Higher and Degree Apprenticeships. In the absence of historical models, diverse approaches to this role are evolving. Using an iterative mixed-methods study the research highlights HETPs as boundary-spanners between institutions and workplace learning. While crucial to successful HDAs, HETP role structures and caseloads vary significantly. However, common responsibilities are evident, alongside recurring tensions between compliance-driven tasks and developmental support. Further research would help to formalise HETP roles towards professionalisation, recognition, and vocational education outcomes.