A Good Practice Guide for Placement and Other Work-based Learning Opportunities in Higher Education – Good Practice for Placements Guides – Volume 2
Article Type: Research news From: Education + Training, Volume 52, Issue 4
ASET (the professional body for placement and employability staff) have published this guide on placements. Placements involve a significant integrated period of work-based learning that is distinctly different from casual work or any other work not related to the course of study. For this to work well it is important that all involved - the higher education institution (HEI), student and employer - work together before, during and after the placement.
ASET argue that the HEI should build the requirements into the course at the design and validation stage, covering learning outcomes, criteria for exemption,preparation for placement, and details of assessment and accreditation. These must then be communicated to the student at the appropriate stages from recruitment through to preparations for, completion of, and debriefing from the placement. The HEI needs to provide academic and administrative support for the student to optimise the preparations for and implementation of the placement experience.
The Guide indicates that student should accept responsibility for finding and delivering a suitable placement, meeting the university requirements including assessment, while also operating as an ambassador for the university while working for the employer. The student should take every action necessary to get the most out of the placement learning experience, in terms of building key skills, relating the experience to academic learning wherever possible, and using the opportunity to consolidate career planning.
In relation to the employer ASET suggest that the employer should think through the reasons for taking a placement student and ensure that the student recruited is appropriate to the post being filled, and will be progressively developed rather than overwhelmed. Students are good value for money but should not be treated as cheap labour; in all respects they should be treated in the same way as other employees, given appraisals, even disciplinary treatment if that is appropriate. In all regards the employer should work with the student and university to enable the learning experience to take place.
This report can be downloaded at: www.asetonline.org/pubs.htm#cop
