1. ulster.ac.uk Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements Prof 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

2. Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements Topics Clarification Defining WBL Confirmed guidelines Good practice examples What happens next

3. Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements The 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

4. Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements The Background 1. L&T Committee makes recommendation 2. Sub Committee Employability (SCE) takes responsibility 3. SCE Work Experience Working Group established 4. Guiding Principles endorsed by SET 5. Good Practice Guide

5. Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements What 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 of employees as well as the specific and technical. And it is about the utilization of their 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

6. 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

7. Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements Principles 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

8. Expectations Clarification 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

9. Good practice It’s already happening TDF302 Textile & Fashion Professional Practice (Belfast School of Art) School of Irish Language & Literature, new Level 6 Employability module School of Environmental Sciences- Graphical Information System in Secondary School ACF343 Career Entrepreneurship (Department of Accounting, Finance & Economics) Good Practice

10. Other points Employer Engagement Length of WBL Assessment Insurance Revalidation

11. Meeting Work Based Learning Requirements Support 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 Environment Dr 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

12. Questions? The Good Practice guide will include: Principles Examples of good practice Examples of assessment of WBL Ideas/feedback welcome to b.byers@ulster.ac.uk b.byers@ulster.ac.uk