Considerations in the design of WBL settings to enhance students’ employability: A synthesis of individual and contextual perspectives

Abstract

Purpose

A central aim of higher education is employability, in order to enable graduates to act in dynamic working environments. Internships as the prevalent work-based learning (WBL) settings offer such an opportunity during the studies; they are commonly used and broadly researched as interventions to improve students’ skills and competences. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influencing factors on students’ skills and competences that lead to employability in WBL settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a synthesis of relevant international empirical research on beneficial effects of the very common WBL setting, internship, to create a research framework across disciplines.

Findings

The current research is characterized by a search for “best practices,” rather than a holistic and systematic view, acknowledging and taking into account different perspectives and their influence. It cannot sufficiently explain why employability in some WBL settings is enhanced more than in others. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the current understanding and evaluation of WBL as an experiential and situated learning experience. It is essential to take promotive factors from the university, the practical partner and the student perspective into account to understand employability enhancement. Based on these findings, a research framework for a holistic perspective on influencing factors of students’ employability is designed.

Research limitations/implications

There is no empirical proof for the findings yet. Future empirical research may, therefore, be directed toward empirical testing of the impact of WBL settings.

Originality/value

It is possible to infer recommendations for improving WBL settings from the three parties involved by interlinking situated and experiential theory.

Citation

Feldmann, L. (2016), "Considerations in the design of WBL settings to enhance students’ employability: A synthesis of individual and contextual perspectives", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 131-145. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-09-2014-0044