Introductory description

The module allows staff engaged in career and employability work in higher education to consider the role of work related learning in their service provision. It integrates theoretical consideration of the role of work related learning in career learning and career development, with the practice of working with individual students, groups of students, other staff and with employers on work related issues. It considers contrasting institutional approaches and allows participants to apply their learning to diverse contexts.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Articulation of participants' context and practice in relating work experience to career and employability.
Links with core modules (institutional and professional issues, theoretical perspectives and values) relating to work related learning, career development and employability.
Support of individuals and groups in engaging in and learning from work related learning.
Institutional approaches to work related learning, including curricular and extra-curricular provision, models of support in sourcing opportunities, availability and targeting of opportunities, pre-, during and post- placement support for learning, quality assurance and evaluation.
Approaches and methods for working with employers to develop work related learning opportunities including placement design, legislative and other regulatory requirements such as health and safety and liability insurance, assessment and evaluation.
Professional values and ethics in the support of work related learning.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Compare and contrast a range of perspectives on work related learning in Higher Education
• Identify the role of work related learning in theories of learning, career development covered and employability in this module and the core learning.
• Critique competing perspective on the above with reference to own context and professional values.
• Apply the knowledge and understanding of work related learning to their own institutional setting in the support of innovative approaches to career and employability development.
• Demonstrate professional autonomy through formulating responses and creating coherent and creative recommendations and plans for implementation.
• Communicate effectively by sharing information and discussing good practice in the design of opportunities for work related learning, using current course guides to presentation and referencing.

Indicative reading list

Purcell, K. and Elias, P., (2010) The impact of paid and unpaid work and of student debt on experience of higher education. Manchester: HECSU.
Inkson, K. (2007) Understanding Careers: the metaphors of working lives. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Frigerio, G., Mendez, R. and McCash, P. (2012). Re-designing Work-related Learning: a
management studies placement module. Coventry: University of Warwick.
Jensen, K (2009) Why Work Experience Matters: Real prospects: 2009 graduates' experiences of placements, internships and work experience, Manchester: HECSU.
Little B & ESECT Colleagues (2006) Employability and work-based learning, York: Higher Education Academy.
Little, B. & Harvey, L. (2006) Learning through work placements and beyond, Manchester: HECSU Moreland, N. (2005) Work-related learning in higher education, York: Higher Education Academy.
Pegg, A; Waldock, J; Hendy-Isaac, S. & Lawton, R (2012) Pedagogy for employability, York: Higher Education Academy.
Simon, R.I, Dippo, D., and Schenke, A. (1991) Learning work: a critical pedagogy of work education, New York, NY: Bergin and Garvey.
Watts, A.G. and Butcher, V. (2008). Break-out or Break-up? Implications of institutional
employability strategies for the role and structure of university careers services. Manchester:HECSU.
Wilson, T. (2012) A review of business-university collaboration, London: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Subject specific skills

Compare and contrast a range of perspectives on work related learning in Higher Education
Identify the role of work related learning in theories of learning, employability and career development covered in this module and in the core learning
Critique competing perspectives on the above with reference to own context and professional values.
Apply the knowledge and understanding of work related learning to own institutional setting in the support of innovative approaches career and employability development.
Demonstrate professional autonomy through formulating responses and creating coherent and creative recommendations and plans for implementation.
Communicate effectively by sharing information and discussing good practice in the design of opportunities for work related learning, using the current course guides to presentation and referencing.

Transferable skills

Formulate responses and implement recommendations.