Change in the workplace is inevitable, intensified by the rapid development of global markets and demand for highly skilled and adaptable employees. One response to this demand is for higher degree students to immerse in workplace experiences aligned to their course discipline to build their employability. In consideration of higher education and…

Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationship between the number of co-operative (co-op) education work terms that students completed and the importance they attach to employer and job attributes (i.e. work values). Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from a large cross-sectional survey of co-op students (N = 2,097) from one…

This study illuminates the leadership experiences of undergraduate business students undertaking a 1-year work placement. Semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were used to explore the students' leadership experiences before and during their placement. Through reflection on these experiences, students were able to make sense of their…

Team cohesion is critical in driving successful outcomes for teams in collaborative learning settings. It shapes team behaviour, fostering shared perceptions, group synchrony and a common goal-oriented approach. This affinity becomes evident in dynamic interactions, offering insights into team behaviour through interaction data analysis.…

This research identifies the soft (employability) skills that key stakeholders view as essential for young people with intellectual disability (ID) to gain and maintain open employment. The study subsequently examined the work experience opportunities for young people with ID to develop these soft skills during their school years. Qualitative data…

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a formal program for student teachers to practice teaching in an authentic learning environment. Assessment of this program can bring conflicts between student teachers and assessors. This empirical study undertaken in South Africa discusses student teachers' participation in the assessment of their WIL. The study…

Work-integrated learning (WIL) has been suggested as a potentially beneficial addition to modern doctoral education. However, there is little research outlining the specificities of WIL aimed at PhD students. This paper explores the range of WIL opportunities available to PhD students through a review of secondary data. The findings indicate that…

Purpose: The research presented in this paper deepens our understanding of the experience of apprentices and employers engaged in degree apprenticeships. Design/methodology/approach: The research is focused upon ten in depth interviews. Data collection and analysis was undertaken following a grounded theory approach. Findings: The data analysis…

Internships are widely recognized within higher education as a useful work-based learning (WBL) approach to enhance student employability. However, there remains a need to understand whether internships provide a developmental experience that includes higher-level (soft) skills such as self-responsibility, flexibility and innovation. Our study…

Work-integrated learning (WIL) has gained significant attention in higher education for its impact on employability. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of WIL research from 2002 to 2023, using data from 1,392 articles indexed in Scopus. The analysis highlights key trends, influential authors, institutions, and collaboration…

The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the literature about the participation of students with intellectual disability in community-based work experiences (CBWEs). We analyzed 54 original research articles written in English, conducted in the United States, and published between 1975 and 2020 in peer-reviewed journals. We identified…

This qualitative study interviewed 16 undergraduates attending a work-based learning (WBL) program at a Sino-British university to explore the impact of future time perspective (FTP) on students' learning motivations and behaviours. The study identified four types of students according to their different understandings of FTP. Then, self-directed…

An employer-based work-experience program run by a multinational organization temporarily employs people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to prepare them for external employment. This study observes the impact of participation for people with ASD in establishing employment (with or without a competitive salary). A quasi-experimental design…

The introduction and expansion of Degree Apprenticeships, and higher-level apprenticeships more generally, has had a positive effect on widening access to professional and organisational careers as well as in some fields to progression within professions (Lester & Bravenboer 2020; Lillis & Bravenboer 2022). However, as discussed by Talbot…

Background: Degree apprenticeships (DA) help employees gain new knowledge and skills by allowing them to study towards a university degree while working full time. For these programmes to be effective, the learning design should be adapted to the needs of these students, who are goal oriented (i.e. they want to gain only knowledge that can be…