Work Placement in Political Science: Justification, Preparation, Implementation and Evaluation A case study of the BSc Government, University College Cork FDTL/HEFCE Conference The Scholarship of Engagement for Politics: Placement Learning, Employability and Citizenship Panel: Employability for Politics
Added advantage in the graduate recruitment market
Policy
Bologna Process
Dearing Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education in the UK (1997)
Employability of Political Science Graduates
Predicament!
Students and employers are often unclear of how to make use of a political science degree
Measures to overcome this predicament
Adjust curricula to the requirements of the labour market?
Contact with employers
Feedback; increased exposure
Provide undergraduates with the opportunity to undertake work placement in order to gain professional experience?
Careers Education Programme for political science students
Outline post-degree options; relevance of degree; positive attitude
Observations from the BSc Government degree, University College Cork
Defining Work Placement
Supervised work experience undertaken by a student
The transition process from ‘learning to earning’(Rhodes: 2003)
Should act as a useful bridge between theory and practice in that it provides an arena in which students may observe and test out what they have learnt at university (Fanthome 2004:3)
Theory of experiential learning
Experiential Learning (Kolb: 1984)
Kolb Cycle
Concrete Experience
What did you do?
Reflective Observation
What was good and/or bad about experience?
Abstract Conceptualisation
If you had to do the same thing again, how would you do it differently next time? Would you change anything?
Experience plus reflection equals learning (Dewey: 1938)
“Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I will understand”. (Confucius 450 BC)
Benefits of Work Placement
The three main stakeholders in the higher education system – students, employers and higher education institutions – benefit in a number of ways through being part of a well structured work experience process.
Benefits for Students
Increased motivation towards studies
Improved time management
Gaining a ‘foot in the door’
Job application skills
Self presentation skills
Concrete work experience on the CV
Learning about the workplace in a ‘safe’ environment
Enabling a more informed career choice to be made on graduation
Developing personal maturity
(A guide to Higher Education Institutions on arranging placements and a compendium of current best practice in the UK: The National Council for Work Experience)
Benefits for Employers
Gaining an intelligent, motivated, cost-effective labour resource with valuable skills, knowledge and fresh ideas
Skilled assistance at peak times of the year, when permanent staff are on holiday
Projects undertaken that would otherwise take valuable time from full time employees
Fostering closer links between the university and organisation, providing an increased awareness of current academic developments and research
Opportunity to assess students’ potential for future employment
Recruitment and training costs are cut through employing placement students when they graduate
Employers gain favourable publicity as a result of placements and sponsorship arrangements with the academic community
(A guide to Higher Education Institutions on arranging placements and a compendium of current best practice in the UK: The National Council for Work Experience)
Benefits forHigher Education Institutions
Contacts with employers are useful in developing collaborative income from research projects, custom-built training courses and consultancy
Close contact with employers help academics to keep up to date with new technologies and work practices. This can be used to review and refresh the curriculum and bring it in line with the needs of the economy and student demand.
Work placements can complement and enhance the academic programme carried out at the university
Work placements helps future student recruitment, as students now seek out work experience opportunities when applying to higher education institutions.
(A guide to Higher Education Institutions on arranging placements and a compendium of current best practice in the UK: The National Council for Work Experience)
attendance, dependability, punctuality, job knowledge, quality of work, quantity of work, versatility, initiative, application, cooperation, attitude and independent judgement
3-Way Meeting
Assessment
Learning Journal
Self-Assessment Essay
Constant contact with students and employers
3rd Stage Post-Placement
Completion of coursework
15-minute presentation
De-brief
‘The good, the bad and the ugly!’
Continuation of careers education programme
Evaluation
Student views on work placement classes
Better equipped to deal with various work place scenarios
Section on reflection and self-assessment very useful when compiling their learning journals
Able to negotiate personal learning outcomes and feel confident enough to express misgivings about work placement if the negotiated outcomes are not allowed to develop.
Evaluation
Student views on work placement
85% of cases, student work placement expectations are met and/or surpassed
Genuinely surprised and delighted at the level of work assigned and the responsibility involved
See the relevance of their degree to the work environment
a renewed sense of excitement about the study of politics on their return to university!
An opportunity to network with people who can advise on how to achieve career goals and ambitions
Evaluation
Employer views on students
Feedback is very positive.
Research and writing abilities
Maturity and confidence in handling various work situations
Excellent interpersonal skills
Focused career plans
Reliable nature
Evaluation
Employer views on work placement process
Employers are greatly impressed by the breadth of student preparation, students’ knowledge of their subject area and students’ poise and self assurance.
The dedicated careers education programme and student support offered by the Department contributes to students’ self-confidence and positive attitude about their degree and employment prospects.
So, what of the impact of work placement on post-degree employment prospects?
15.5% of all those Government students who secure employment on graduation return to their work placement employment.
Comparing BSc Government graduate destination reports from 2004 to 2006 against that of a similar social science degree in UCC where work placement is not available
observe slightly higher employment rates amongst the Government graduates
When asked if they find the work placement programme useful in securing employment, a majority of students agreed that it is
Careers Education Programme
BSc Government FDR (2004 – 2006)
BA (Joint Honours) FDR (2004 – 2006)
Institutional Benefits
Allows the department to keep abreast of emerging employment trends.
Exposure of the degree programme amongst employers
Important, relatively new degree
Employers has resulted in changes on structure of degree programme