Learning Through Work Placements and Beyond

Published: July 2006, Pages: 72, Size: 1.3Mb

Learning Through Work Placements and Beyond.

This report, by Brenda Little and Lee Harvey, focused on the effects as perceived by students themselves, of work experience placements as well as employablility.

The aims of the study were to:

• Investigate students' perception of learning from placements (planned as part of the undergraduate curriculum);
• Explore how values and ethical positions are developed on placement; 
• Investigate the extent to which students try to transfer and build on such learning in subsequent stages of the curriculum.

The conclusions highlighted the increasingly optional nature of placement and the decreasing number of students opting to undertake placements. It also highlighted the tangible benefits of such placements as described by students.

It raised the question of why more students are not involved in work placements, given there are such positive messages about the impact of work placements on subsequent learning experiences and future careers plans.