scholarly journals Learning beyond the classroom: biomedical science students' narratives of volunteering and developing employability skills.

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Cunningham ◽  
Deeba Gallacher
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Intellectual Ability ◽  
Employability Skills ◽  
Biomedical Science ◽  
Graduate Employability

This case study focuses on a work that developed from a Higher Education Academy (HEA) teaching development grant which investigated biomedical science undergraduate students experiences of engaging with health related volunteering opportunities and the link with maximising employability skills in a North London university.Biomedical students recognise theoretical knowledge and practical skills as essential to employability but have limited opportunity to apply these with sparse placement opportunities especially within hospital or laboratory environments. Graduate employability skills are generally accepted as the knowledge, skills and attributes to be effective in the workplace.  Reports on graduate employability highlight communication skills, team-working, integrity, intellectual ability and self confidence as the five most important attributes sought by employers (Archer and Davidson, 2008).  UCAS (2012) expands this (biomedicine profile) by including creativity, initiative and flexibility and with what could also be argued as important: wisdom, (Schwartz, 2012). This is a tall order for any curriculum and in reality embraces more than classroom or laboratory learning environments but the whole undergraduate experience. This particular work was a partnership endeavour with undergraduate students to seek science related volunteering opportunities and the potential for developing the skills for biomedical employability.The methodology in this case study was primarily action research with its iterative cycles. These were: identification and development of science or health volunteering opportunities, employers' perceptions of the use and value of such volunteering and articulation of the skills and qualities from such experiences.  One key 'data' output was a record of students' reflections and narratives as they contributed and drove the volunteering activity. Students maintained diaries of their experiences, skill development, personal growth and achievements and of working in partnership with staff and independently. Students' reflective blogs revealed several benefits and challenges and their approaches to address these illustrate their creativity, endurance and flexibility. This is a 'snap-shot' but presents 'voices' or 'narratives' of partnerships which enhance the students' learning (and teaching) experience. It also presents students' attitudes to volunteering and how they feel this contributes to their employability potential. Insights gained are invaluable to academic staff in appreciating the social constriction of learning and the extension of formal academic provision into the third sector

scholarly journals Fostering creativity understanding

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 574-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Boulocher-Passet ◽  
Peter Daly ◽  
Isabelle Sequeira
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hard Data ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Fostering Creativity ◽  
Survey Responses

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to encourage initiatives to train large cohorts of undergraduate students for creativity understanding. The authors describe a case study of a creativity exercise developed within a corporate setting that accommodates a large cohort and discuss the results of empirical research on this teaching experience at a French Business School. The authors reflect on the transferability of this exercise by other educators to similar educational contexts and the usefulness of training future managers to a structured creativity methodology to be exploited in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach – A case study explains the features of the exercise. Hard data on students’ perceptions and motivation/satisfaction prior to and after the creativity exercise was collected through an internet self-completed survey instrument. In total, 245 pairs of survey responses from first-year students were analysed using prototypical analysis, paired samples t-test and content analysis. Findings – The exercise proved an effective tool to help large cohorts of undergraduates to better understand that creativity is a managerial competence that can be trained. The authors particularly underlined the need for fluidity in the organisation of the exercise; use of a clear creativity process and methodology; the necessity to involve an external creativity consultant; and the importance of the chosen topic being non art related. In the workplace, this understanding of creativity methodologies will enable future managers to support, promote and manage creativity endeavours. Originality/value – This paper encourages initiatives and provides insights into the difficulties of training large cohorts of undergraduate students for understanding the concept of creativity.

scholarly journals Theory to practice: Canalside Studio, a case study

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Taylor ◽  
Damian De Luca
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Computer Games ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Small Computer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The University

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to look at the experiences of university academic staff setting up a small computer games studio to provide work placement opportunities for undergraduate students and the supporting role of industry. Design/methodology/approach – The case study uses sense making to explore the boundaries between “simulated” and “real” work in an educational setting. Findings – For students and teachers to work together in a commercial setting, relationships have to be reconstructed. Teaching focusses on developing the individual and personal attainment, the work environment prioritises the team so that organisational and business needs are met. Differences in culture and working practices between industry and academia and the organisational constraints of a university, present challenges for academic staff engaged in enterprise. Research limitations/implications – The authors recognise the limitations of a single institution case study and intend further investigation into factors around employability, enterprise education and the availability of work experience for students studying in the creative technologies including experiences in other institutions. Practical implications – Practical experience and business knowledge gained through the studio development process by the student and staff, has informed the curriculum through the introduction of team-working modules. The studio provides a unique interface between the university and games industry partners. Originality/value – The study shows the value of a university-based games studio in providing work experience for students and enhancing employability and provides insights into university/industry partnering.

scholarly journals Beyond employability skills: Developing professional purpose

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glen Bates ◽  
Andrew Rixon ◽  
Angela Carbone ◽  
Chris Pilgrim
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Employability Skills ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
Model Study ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
The World ◽  
Professional Aspirations ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Rapid Transformation ◽  
Professional Purpose

Rapid transformation of the workplace and a highly competitive labour market has changed the nature of graduate employability. In addition to discipline related knowledge, students now need to be proactive and adaptable in identifying career opportunities.  This paper presents a conceptual model that views employability as determined by an overarching professional purpose mindset.  This mindset reflects a person’s commitment to developing a professional future aligned to personal values, professional aspirations and societal outlook. Four specific mindsets are encapsulated within professional purpose (curiosity, collaboration, action and growth) and relate to three domains of development (self and social awareness; navigating the world of work and networks). Two studies were conducted to explore the professional purpose model.  Study one was a qualitative study in which 33 undergraduate students (19 female; 14 male) explored their career decision making.  Focus group and interview data showed that each of the four positive mindsets operated in many students’ proactive career related behaviours.  However, for other students, alternative mindsets negatively influenced their career related behaviour.  In the second study, 42 academics (28 male; 14 female)  identified unit learning outcomes in existing curricula related to the three domains of development.  All domains were evident but outcomes for navigating the world of work received most emphasis.  Implications of the findings for further development of the professional purpose model are discussed.

scholarly journals Book Reviews for Mathematics Undergraduates: an assignment to enhance reading and writing skills essential for today’s workplace and to promote collaboration between library and academic staff’

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel-Ann Bradshaw ◽  
Karen Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Employability Skills ◽  
Mathematics Students ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Mathematical Sciences ◽  
The University ◽  
Successful Collaboration

This case-study shows how successful collaboration between colleagues from the University of Greenwich library and Mathematical Sciences department has resulted in increased library usage and an improvement in important employability skills for mathematics students.  It is argued that similar collaborations in other STEM disciplines within the University could have an equally beneficial effect.

scholarly journals The Undergraduate Research Scholarship Scheme: A co-created approach to transforming student learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth L Ayres ◽  
Christopher J Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Research Scholarship

The value of student as researcher/‘co-producer’ has been well documented in the research literature.  This case study outlines an institutional 'student as researcher' initiative that was introduced to enable the co-creation of research by undergraduate students working in partnership with members of academic staff.  The paper outlines the establishment and implementation of the scheme and offers a reflection upon and exploration of its perceived value, through the lens of staff and students who participated in it.

scholarly journals Students as partners in collaborative course design and educational research

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-80
Author(s):  
Cortney Hanna-Benson ◽  
Shayla Kroeze ◽  
Radhika Gandhi ◽  
Tom Haffie ◽  
Lindi M. Wahl
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Personal Agency ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Personal Reflections ◽  
The Impact

The impact of collaborative course design is explored in this qualitative, longitudinal study of an upper-year course in which 30-40 undergraduate students co-designed the course syllabus, including both course content and assessments. In addition, the research questions and methods were co-designed by a research team involving six undergraduate student partners, an educational developer, and two faculty members. Student written work and focus-group transcripts were coded and analyzed using longitudinal interpretive phenomenological analysis. The two major themes emerging from this analysis were (a) growth (i.e., the development of academic skills, reflective practice, and personal growth that extended beyond the course), and (b) awareness (of students as a community of learners, of instructors as partners in learning, and of personal agency in learning). Personal reflections on the impact of this partnership revealed broad benefits to both students and academic staff.

scholarly journals Au fait law placements

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-167
Author(s):  
Nicola Tully ◽  
Alex Avramenko
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Law

Purpose – Enhancing student employability and bridging the gap between theory and practice in law education requires a more multifaceted approach than the traditional mix of lectures, tutorials and simulations. Law placements also provide an opportunity to reinforce the importance of the professional practice standards and requirements laid down by the Law Society of Scotland. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the design and implementation of law placements from the point of initiation to becoming a regular practice. The emphasis is on placements embedded in the programme of study offered to Stage 3 students to facilitate their career choices prior to specialisation in the final year. Design/methodology/approach – This study utilises a longitudinal multi-method approach, allowing the analysis of various aspects the development and practical implementation of law-related placements. The views of students, academic staff and representatives of local employers are gathered by in-depth interviews. A reflective workbook method is also used to analyse the “integration” of learning and to support the “demonstration” and assessment of personal and professional capabilities which are difficult to assess by other means. Findings – The paper presents the challenge faced by a higher education institution in organising meaningful placements and looks at the other avenues explored, particularly in the Third Sector. There are differences in the expectations of law placement providers (law firms and Third Sector organisations) in respect of students’ skill and knowledge base. The students were explicit about the need to demystify the profession and are appreciative of experience with atypical law placement providers which expands their perceptions of the choices within a law career. Students have also indicated a positive alteration in their attitude to the role of reflective practice, which stimulated changes in their behaviour with respect to professional development. Practical implications – The outcomes of the initial stage of this study have implications for law departments in higher education in the context of organising law placements, evaluating their effectiveness and their impact on student employability. Originality/value – Teaching law has its specifics and already employs a number of methods: simulations, negotiation exercises, moots and debates. This paper explores ways of providing a more meaningful practical experience for undergraduate students by placing an emphasis on such elements of professional practice as drafting legal documents and preparing professional opinions, while introducing the complexity of the law profession. Solutions to the challenges faced by the institution in organising those placements are analysed. The study provides an analytical view on the effectiveness of law placements in relation to other widely used approaches to bridging the gap between the theory and practice of law.

Role efficacy: A comprehensive study

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopa Bhardwaj ◽  
Swati Sharma ◽  
Neeti B. Karnick
Keyword(s):  
Personal Growth ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Potential Effectiveness ◽  
Role Integration ◽  
Helping Relationship ◽  
Role Efficacy ◽  
Comprehensive Study

A case study in manufacturing giant attempts to capture how potential effectiveness of a role is psychologically tuned along ten dimensions on which efficacy of an employee is defined. Further, how position, age and tenure of employment interact with role efficacy. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approach is followed, where n=28. Managers are seen as leaders and act like role models for the subordinates. Further, managers are high on helping relationship. Both see an opportunity for personal growth in their role. Self- role integration is lesser in managers than subordinates. Subordinates are found to be more reactive. Confrontation is greater for subordinates than managers. Elders are strong on dimensions common to achievers and youngest seems to have politics. Longer tenures exhibits more helping attitude and more confrontation than with smaller tenures. Thus, the dynamism between position, age and tenure seems to have an effect on role-efficacy.

scholarly journals Mapping Instructional Barriers during COVID-19 Outbreak: Islamic Education Context

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Akhmad Habibi ◽  
Amirul Mukminin ◽  
Lalu Nurul Yaqin ◽  
Lalu Parhanuddin ◽  
Rafiza Abdul Razak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Islamic Education ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Instructional Activities ◽  
Years Of Teaching Experience ◽  
Technological Barriers

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently the most potent threat to educational systems, a crisis that may become disastrous. For the current study, a qualitative design within a case study tradition was implemented to investigate instructional barriers during COVID-19 faced by Indonesian teachers in Islamic boarding schools (Pesantren). Within this study, we applied a purposeful convenient sampling in which the access was obtained through communication with the principals of two Pesantren. Seven invited participants with more than ten years of teaching experience agreed to participate. Semi-structured interviews were addressed for data collection; each interview lasted from 40 to 50 min. The interviews were conducted in the participants’ mother tongue to provide an in-depth understanding of their perceptions, ideas, and arguments regarding instructional barriers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The thematic analysis revealed three major findings regarding the barriers; technological barriers, financial barriers, and pedagogical barriers affecting instructional activities in the two Pesantren. Based on the three themes, the development of a qualitative conceptual map of teachers’ instructional barriers was finalized. Recommendations are also proposed by the participants and the study for the betterment of Indonesian Islamic education facing future similar outbreaks.

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