Ulster.ac.uk Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements Prof Gillian Armstrong, Chair of Work Experience Working Group (Sub Committee for Employability)

ulster.ac.uk

Meeting Work Based Learning RequirementsProf Gillian Armstrong, Chair of Work Experience Working Group (Sub Committee for Employability)

Mr Brian Byers, Employability Manager, Employability & Marketing, Member of Work Experience Working Group

Meeting Work Based Learning RequirementsTopics

• Clarification• Defining WBL• Confirmed guidelines• Good practice examples• What happens next

Meeting Work Based Learning RequirementsThe Background

The first HE Strategy for NI advocates that institutions ‘must provide students with opportunities to develop a portfolio of skills, attributes and experiences that will set them apart in the world of employment. The portfolio should include personal development, creative thinking allied to enterprise and innovation, international mobility opportunities and embedding employability skills within the curriculum.’

Furthermore, DEL expects that all learners have the opportunity to undertake a period of work placement whilst undertaking a higher education course.

The University Learning & Teaching Committee and Senate have asked Faculties to make provision for a period of placement/work based learning as a compulsory component in all undergraduate and integrated Master’s degree programmes from the September 2015 intake

Meeting Work Based Learning RequirementsThe Background

1. L&T Committee makes recommendation

2. Sub Committe

e Employability (SCE)

takes responsib

ility

3. SCE Work

Experience Working

Group establishe

d

4. Guiding

Principles endorsed by SET

5. Good Practice Guide

Meeting Work Based Learning RequirementsWhat is WBL?

Work-Based learning is concerned not only with immediate work competencies,but with future competencies. It is about investment in the general capabilities ofemployees as well as the specific and technical. And it is about the utilization oftheir knowledge and capabilities wherever they might be needed in place and time.(Boud and Garrick, 1999)

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/AboutUs/Documents/WBL_Guidelines.pdf



Principles

Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements

WBL opportunities should be relevant and provide an authentic and meaningful context for experiential learning

WBL should support student learning and provide an awareness of the current graduate market place

WBL opportunities should provide a supportive environment with access to a network of experienced colleagues

WBL should provide a context for students to practice and reflect on real issues leading to applicable learning and critical thinking

WBL and assessment should be integrated in a valid and reliable way; and linked to the development of relevant employability skills and the Ulster graduate qualities

Meeting Work Based Learning RequirementsPrinciples

WBL

Relevant & Authentic

Provide awareness of the graduate market place

Supportive environment

with access to effective network

Allow students to practice & reflect

on real issues

Integrated and assessed in a

valid and reliable way, linked to

Ulster graduate qualities

ExpectationsClarification

• There will be no minimum length of work based learning

• The lack of minimum length help course teams maintain autonomy in the approach they take

• Course teams are best placed to identify the best approach for implementing work based learning

Good practiceIt’s already happening

TDF302 Textile & Fashion Professional Practice (Belfast School of Art)

School of Irish Language & Literature, new Level 6 Employability module

Good Practice

Other points

Employer EngagementLength of WBLAssessmentInsuranceRevalidation

Meeting Work Based Learning RequirementsSupport

Employability & Marketing lead on WBL- Brian Byers

Membership of SCE Work Experience working group:Prof Gillian Armstrong (Head of Dept of Accounting, Finance & Economics)Dr David Barr (Head of School of Modern Languages)Prof David Bustard (now retired, was Director of Employability, Faculty C&E) Dr Philip Millar (School of the Built EnvironmentDr Caoimhin O Donaill (School of Irish Language & Literature)Mrs Tandy Haughey (School of Sport)Brian Byers (Employability & Marketing)Seamus McConomy (Employability & Marketing)

Career Development Consultants

Questions?

The Good Practice guide will include:• Principles• Examples of good practice• Examples of assessment of WBLIdeas/feedback welcome to [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]