Work-related learning
Taking part in work-related learning allows universities and organisations to collaborate, share knowledge and expertise whilst giving students the opportunity to gain real work experience and improve their employability. Work-related learning also benefits students in numerous ways:
- Improves their understanding of business and educational organisations and how they operate.
- Develops skills that employers want, such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills.
- Develops career awareness.
- Provides them with an opportunity to ‘learn by doing’.
The College Employability Team can support you with a range of initiatives that will enhance your students employability. Below is a list of possibile options but this is not exhaustive.
Please get in touch if you wish to discuss the possibilities.
Collaborative research
We recognise that many organisations need good quality research and do not always have the resources for this, and we also know that our students are keen to conduct research which has relevance to the real organisations and potentially to their future career plans. We are able to support students to increase the employability value of their dissertation through tailoring their topic and by working in collaboration with an external organisation.
Employer, industry and alumni talks
Lectures or career talks delivered by external organisations at the University as an integrated or additional aspect to an academic programme are an easy way to engage in work-related learning.
Organisations benefit by raising the profile of their organisation and the types of roles available within the business as well as gaining access to potential future employees. Students will hear about the career path of former studetns of their academic programme, gain an understanding of how skills and knowledge are used in the workplace, opportunities available to them within a sector and allow students to explore the practical application of the knowledge they have been acquiring in the classroom.
These informal Q&A sessions can provide valuable opportunities for students to find out more about potential future career routes they may aspire to and to expand their professional networks.
Student-led activities
Students can design, develop and deliver their own activities within academic courses and programmes with the support of the Student Experence & Partnership Lead - Skills & Development. Typical activities include events, organisational visits and the creation of think tanks or blogs. Activities such as these help students to explore their career aspirations, to apply their academic knowledge, develop organisational skills as well as gain experience in managing a small project.
Consultation projects and organisational challenges
"Real work" situations such as case studies, consultation projects and organisational challanges can provide great opportunities for students and employers alike.
Organisations can propose projects which provide students with challenging organisation-based, action-learning, designed to give them hands-on experience of the workplace. It allows them to have realistic experiences where they can put their academic learning into practice to address real problems. Projects normally require students to critically analyse a particular management/organisational situation or problem and then make strategic or operational recommendations for future activities. Organisations benefit by receiving academically rigorous research with possible solutions to a challenge they face.
Placements
Work-based experiences can be a range of activities that take place within a work setting, including: placements, work experience and some forms of volunteering, providing scope for application of subject understanding and exercise of graduate level skills.
Undertaking any of these activities benefits students in a number of ways:
- Improved motivation to study
- Practical application of their subject area
- Experience of dealing with ill-structured problems
- Help them decide what they do/don’t want to do when they graduate
- Greater confidence
- Development of interpersonal skills and enhanced employability
- Accumulating experience which may be desirable/essential for work or postgraduate study
At postgraduate level, placements and work experience opportunities need to be embedded within an academic programme due to the short time available and are usually unpaid. To embed this in a programme requires effort and time. The Student Experience & Partnership Lead - Skills & Development can provide guidance and support with this.