Abstract:

Work Based Learning (WBL) is not a new concept. Authors such as Baud and Solomon (2001) have discussed both the concept and practice of learning in the workplace. There has been widespread acceptance of the value of education in the workplace rather than ‘training’, particularly when academic programmes involve the learner and the employer in the design and delivery of curriculum, thus allowing the specific matching of the employer’s strategic needs with the planned development of the learner. This has been described as a ‘tri-partite’ , ‘negotiated’ approach. Since then however, there has been limited evidence of widespread acceptance or uptake of WBL, either by employers or Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It is suggested that there remain significant barriers both to the communication of WBL opportunities, and to the implementation of WBL academic programmes. The WBLQUAL project was funded to research into the barriers and enablers of tri-partite, negotiated WBL - from the viewpoints of Employers, Learners and HEI institutions, and to examine how the up-skilling work based Learners through Higher Education Qualifications can contribute to EU objectives.

This presentation will seek to explain the original concept of the WBLQUAL project, to describe and evaluate the deliverables from the project, and to discuss how further collaborations between HEIs and employers can be encouraged to exploit the opportunities for WBL.
WBLQUAL involved partners from 5 EU countries (Led by the UK, and involving partners from Denmark, Italy, Poland, Latvia). Each partner led a research ‘workpackage’, focussing on Employer, Student and HEI viewpoints, and from an economic sector (leisure and tourism). It is intended that each partner will present results from their work package during the WBL ‘section’ of the conference.
The research methods involved primary research using questionnaires, in depth interviews and case studies, supported by literature reviews. By integrating findings from across the EU the project was able to analyse and identify common factors, as well as country specific issues relevant to WBL.
This presentation will describe the context and the aspirations of the WBL project, and how it relates to EU objectives. It will describe the main project activities and deliverables, thereby setting the scene for the related presentations in the WBLQUAL conference section.

References:
The European Higher Education Area in 2012 (EACEA P9 Eurydice25 April 2012).
Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe: (EU - 16 September 2011)
Evaluation of the Higher Education Transforming Workforce Development Programme, Report to HEFCE by CFE and KSA (2011)
Pritchard R and Shah H, Higher Education Academy, Better Together: sharing learning from workforce development projects across the UK Keynote, The Britvic IT Academy in Partnership with Staffordshire University: The Employer Perspective, May 2009, London)
TR Bailey, KL Hughes - Working knowledge: Work-based learning and education reform (2004)
D Boud - Work-based learning: A new higher education, 2001

Keywords:

Education, Work based Learning, HE reform, Widening participation, Education and Employability.