Abstract:

Traineeship is a model of combined work-based and classroom-based learning, which aims at providing a program of specific skills development for career progression. The learners at the Digital Society School work in multidisciplinary teams guided by experts from the industry and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). These teams are composed of designers, programmers, social/digital media experts, copywriters and storytellers. The traineeship is in English and available to talented and motivated learners, MBO students, and also professionals seeking to advance/change their career.

This project is related to the Digital Society School (DSS) traineeship program, which aims to support learners grow their skills and develop their full potential in innovative interactive media. Specifically, every semester, 40 diverse learners participate in this hands-on learning experience, which involves practice-based work with industry partners and applied research. One of the main challenges our graduates have reported is that, before the beginning of the traineeship,
they have very little insight of their traineeship program, their integration in the university and (for the foreigners) in the Dutch society in general. Moreover, once they arrive at the DSS, they often need to tackle issues of delayed initiation into the University's community and/or of impeded belonging within various University-related activities. They also find themselves feeling like outsiders or even cut off while, at the same time, juggle their time between resolving the logistics of their traineeship and working on their projects. During the COVID-19 crisis, this has become even more apparent, with big part of the traineeship activity and communications taking place with less physical presence and community building.

This project provides new learners with a digital environment, which includes resources and activities (both virtual and on campus) related to the development of a sense of belonging.

Such project is a powerful resource during the first days of the students in the program and can enact positive change on the learners’ well-being, their academic performance, their satisfaction with their program of study, and, thus, their retention.

Keywords:

Student support, student retention, sense of belonging, pedagogical innovations, non formal education, traineeship.