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Work-­‐based  learning  in  Poli1cs  &  Interna1onal  Studies:  from  theory  to  

prac1ce  

Dr  Sophia  Price    Principal  Lecturer,  Poli<cs  and  Applied  Global  Ethics    

Leeds  Metropolitan  University    

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Work  –  Based  Learning    “There  is  strong  evidence  to  indicate  that  authen<c  work  experience  contextualises  learning,  has  a  strong  influence  on  graduate  employment  and  should  be  integrated  into  course  curricula  wherever  possible.  In  order  to  maximise  learning  for  employability  and  the  academic  subject  it  is  important  that  this  should  be  a  pedagogically  supported  experience,  which  includes  reflec<on  and  ar<cula<on  of  the  learning  achieved.”(Pegg  et  al.  2012)    

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Work  based  learning    in  PAGE    UG  PorFolio    Courses  •  BA  (hons)  Poli<cs,  •  BA  (hons)  Interna<onal  Rela<ons  &  Global    Development,  

•  BA  (hons)  Interna<onal  Rela<ons  &  Peace    Graduate  A"ributes:  •  Digital  literacy,    •  Enterprise,    •  Global  Outlook  

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How  ?    •  Level  6    •  Compulsory  100  hours  Voluntary  Work  Placement  (block  or  incremental)    

•  Self  organised,  independent    •  Learning  Outcomes:    

•  Evalua<on  of  roles,  responsibili<es  and  organisa<ons  •  Cri<cal  understanding  and  reflec<on    •  Effec<ve  communica<on    •  Develop  digital  literacy    

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Assessment    A.   Individual  Presenta1on  (20%)    (15  min  reflec<ve  account)  

1. Descrip<on  of  organisa<on  and  role/ac<vi<es  

2. Rela<onship  of  volunteering/work  prac<ce  to  course  area    

3. Details  of  role  and  ac<vi<es  undertaken  4. Reflec<on:  effec<veness  of  performance  

5. Reflec<on  on  what    was  learned  in  rela<on  to  your  employability  and    future  plans  

•  Opportunity    for  feedback  .      

•  Audience:  L4/5,  staff  team  &  guests  (?)    

B.  PorFolio  (80%)  

Reflec1ve  component  (50%)  1. Le"er  to  confirm  hours  and  role  2. CV  (2  sides  A4  maximum)  3. Reflec<ve  report  (indica<ve  2000  words)  

Cri1cal  academic  report  (50%)                1500  words    1. Analysis    of  the  organisa<on  /  ac<vi<es  /  sector    

2. Rela<onship  to  your  course  3. Cri<cal  engagement  with  academic  literature  

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Examples  of  Volunteering    Domes<c    

•  MPs  –  Westminster,  Scodsh  Parliament,  Stormont,  local  cons<tuency  offices  and  research  offices  .    

•  Member  of  the  House  of  Lords  •  Regional  Poli<cal  Party  offices  •  Local  councillors  and  Mayors    •  IPPR    North  •  NGOs  and  lobby  groups  –  Greenpeace,  CND,  Oxfam    •  Campaigns  -­‐  Love  Music,  Hate  Racism;  An<-­‐

bedroom  Tax    •  Schools  -­‐  primary  and  secondary  •  Ford  Open  Prison  and  Armley    •  Trade  Unions  and  the  Regional  TUC  •  South  Yorkshire  Migra<on  and  Asylum  Service  •  Media  -­‐  Local  papers,  BBC  Jersalem    •  Support  groups:  Somalian  Womens’  group,  refugee  

ac<on,  samaritans;    rough  sleepers  project    

Interna<onal    •  Human  Rights  commission  Buenos  Aires  •  Spanish  Embassy  Tehran    •  Street  work  Project  Mexico    •  BBC  Jerusalem    •  WWOOF  Interna<onal    •  Orphanages  and  Teaching:  Vietnam,  Tanzania,  

India,  Nepal,  Ghana    •  Environmental  ac<on  groups:  Crete,  Dominican  

republic  •  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs,  Qatar    •  Amnesty  Brazil    

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Innova1ons    •  Compe<<ve  internships  –  to  build  ongoing  rela<onships  with  par<cular  organisa<ons    

•  Pebble  pad  porpolios  –  built  over  level  4  and  5  in  prepara<on  for  level  6  assessment    

•  Cri<cal  report  –  to  develop  link  to  academic  literature  in  rela<on  to  course  aims,  and  develop  understanding  of      Poli<cs/Interna<onal  Rela<ons/  Global  Development/  Peace    

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Challenges:    •  To  ensure  that  both  the  student  and  the  organisa<on  maximise  the  benefits  from  the  voluntary  placement    

•  To  build  links  with  organisa<ons  that  are  prepared  to  offer  short  term  voluntary  placements    

•  To  develop  contribu<on  from  PAGE  students  to  local  community  in  par<cular.