Full time study, part time Full time study, part time work: work: undergraduate’s learning undergraduate’s learning from employment.from employment.

Joanne Blake. Joanne Blake. University of Huddersfield Sept 2007University of Huddersfield Sept 2007

The Research Project

2 Year WBL Assessment and Credit Project

Survey of full time student’s part time work Development of WBL module on

undergraduate programmes Academic credit for sandwich placements Employer Engagement Progression to HE from non-traditional routes

Incidence of Student p.t term time work 40% 2004 (Mori & Unite) 53% 2005 (UUK

50% increase between 1996 and 2006 (TUC)

HUBS Students at work

343 completed questionnaires

226 (66%) work in term time92% 6 hours +34% 10 – 14 Hours30% 15 hours +

Employer Types

Type of company

Count %

supermarket 48 21.1% retail store 48 21.1% manufacturing company 7 3.1%

contact centre 16 7.0% bar/ restaurant/ hotel 50 21.9% other 59 25.9%

‘Other’ categories

Hospitals and NHS departments Sports organisations Estate Agency Banks and financial institutions Govt depts eg immigration, Revenue &

Customs Marketing Accountancy practices

Supervisory Cash handling

Customer care Admin

Problem solving

29.9% 66.2% 78.4% 26.4% 47.6% Comms Team work IT skills Marketing Sales 77.1% 85.3% 35.1% 19.5% 44.2%

Skills Developed

The Student View

72% of respondents would like to be able to gain academic credit for p.t work

70% of respondents thought their work was not worthy of academic credit

However, through student interviews comparability of learning was comprehended.

Student interviews

Time management, self management and working under pressure;

How to prioritise work and organisational skills

Working with others, how to deal with people and social skills

Dealing with difficult situation, conflict Self monitoring skills, patience, remaining

calm and not being “hot headed.

HEI’s WBL modules

Contact with 34 Business Schools 60% of business schools contacted have work

based learning on traditional 3 year undergraduate degrees.

WBL modules of varying credit value (between 15 and 30) at all levels and sometimes being a compulsory element for those students who had not undertaken a sandwich degree.

The Proposed Module

Pilot module with small cohort of students Intermediate PD & WBL 5 hours part time work p/wk Paid or un-paid PD reflective portfolio Project in term 2

Week

Title Concepts

1 Introduction to Module

What is work based learningSkills and knowledge developed in the workplaceMaintaining a learning log & Collating evidence

3 Reflection and articulation of learning

Techniques for reflection in the workplaceReviewing feedback within the workplaceEnhanced learning diaries

5 & 7

Developing Creativity

An introduction to tools for creativityThe importance of creativity and enterprise

9 Project Planning

Selecting a work based project. Learning ContractsManaging the project. Risk Analysis

12 Formative Assessment

Portfolios to be submitted for formative assessment

The next step

Monitoring and evaluation of pilot scheme WBL at other levels WBL within post –graduate courses How make avail in HUBS Effect on other aspects of the curriculum