Learning through Work Placements and Beyond

Citation

(2007), "Learning through Work Placements and Beyond", Education + Training, Vol. 49 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2007.00449aae.002

Learning through Work Placements and Beyond

Brenda Little and Lee HarveyHigher Education Career Services UnitResearch report

Reviewing this research report I was surprised to learn that since 1999 there has be a steady decline in the undergraduate take-up of placements. New universities account for the largest part of this decline. It is not the purpose of Little and Harvey’s work to investigate the decline but their findings undoubtedly make the case for this to be investigated. This is because their report makes it abundantly clear that students do draw very tangible learning gains from work experience planned as part of their higher education programme.

A particular focus of the research was to explore the extent and nature of the transfer of learning from the placement to subsequent stages of a taught programme. The authors make a powerful case that the outcomes are substantially more than insight into a particular technique, operation or illustration of practice. The data, they argue, point to students becoming more “actively engaged” in their post-placement learning. Students are reported as practicing a more mature and independent approach to learning, more prepared to question and think for themselves.

S: I’ve taken International Trade before [the placement] and not really been able to set it in context or fully understand everything that’s going on, but having seen it for a year taking place and looking at policy, then it’s far more interesting. I just sit there and I go, “Oh yes, I understand that”, and not only do I understand it, I go, “Those figures look wrong … how did they gather that data?” because I’ve spent a lot of time looking at data, so I understand the methodology behind figures, so I look at figures now and I go, “How have you made those? I think you’re missing a few variables, I don’t think they show what you claim they show.”

I: Would you have done that questioning [before?]

S: No, I wouldn’t have questioned it. University’s supposed to teach you that … university’s supposed to get you to go out there and explore the data, but I feel it’s the workplace that taught me that.

This extract not only illustrates this point well, but also is indicative of the style and content of the report and the depth of insight that is evident within it. This is its real strength. Drawing on over 80 face-to-face interviews the student voice is powerfully recorded. Discussion of where students feel they have seen genuine development; for example, in interpersonal communications, team working and personal development, are not abstract perceptions but firmly rooted in the stories of their experiences within the workplace. Some considerable attention, therefore, is paid to student self assessment but it was a pity that more attention was not given to the “dynamic” of performance assessment. In other words, greater insight into how “effective performance” was interpreted, depending upon context, and in engagement with employer/manager. Critical here, of course, is the differing expectations held by the student and their employer/manager. Do employers view students on placements as in effect graduates and what is the implication of this? Whilst we do get glimpses of insight into the issue of identity, for example: “My manager made a point of never saying I was a potential graduate. I think they presumed I was a graduate, so I got a lot more respect because of that … ” it remains largely unexplored. Here is a rich vein for further exploration and which is warranted both within placements and indeed within employment post degree.

This report is well constructed and insightful. It makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of placement activity and provides a number of avenues for further research. It is recommended to tutors involved, in any way, with students on placement, and to students themselves whether preparing for a placement or reflecting on it once completed. The report can be downloaded at no charge from the HECSU at the following web site: www.prospects.ac.uk/downloads/documents/HECSU/Reports/Workplacement_Little_Harvey.pdf