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, who are 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 a mixed-methods study, we highlight HETPs as boundary-spanners between institutions and workplace learning. Although they are vital to successful HDAs, HETP role structures and caseloads vary significantly. Nevertheless, common responsibilities emerge, alongside recurring tensions between compliance-driven tasks and developmental support. Further research would help to formalise HETP roles to promote professionalisation, recognition, and vocational education outcomes.