embedding employability via wbl abroad

Laurence Giraud-Johnstone School of Creative and Cultural

Industries

For all their help and valuable contribution I should like to thank especially:

Dr Lesley Hamilton, E-Learning Developer, Centre for Academic and Professional Development

Dr Louisa Sheward, Lecturer, Centre for Academic and Professional Development

Martin Smith, Media Specialist, ICT

Background Methodology Audience participation & findings

◦ Students’ worries◦ Students’ expectations◦ Skills audit◦ End of year students’ reflections

Conclusions

Why a Work Based Learning Abroad in a Foreign Language module?

Work placements abroad Learning outcomes

◦ Linguistic skills◦ Cultural awareness◦ Essential generic employability skills

A pre-departure checklist Skills audit and personal

development planning A logbook/ diary A series of structured

questionnaires An end-of-year summary

report Individual interviews

1. Accommodation worries2. Worries about teaching3. Isolation worries4. Social integration worries5. Language worries6. Financial worries7. Bureaucracy 8. Survival/practical skills

worries9. Incident worries10. Lack of confidence

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

0% 0%

18%

9%

0%0%

9%9%9%

45%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

0% 0% 0%

20%

0%

40%40%

0%0%0%

1. Increased personal confidence2. Valuable teaching experience3. Improved insight into new way

of life4. Knowledge enhancement of the

cultural heritage of the foreign country

5. Meet new people/ new friends6. Improved Independence7. Travelling8. Improved Language skills9. Increased employment skills10. Improved budgeting

Subject/Discipline Knowledge and Understanding

Applied Knowledge and Understanding

KnowledgeUnderstanding of ConceptsKnowledge Enhancement

ProfessionalismPractice and ExperienceResearch

Generic Cognitive Skills Communication, ICT and Numeracy

Reading and Gathering InformationJudgement/Problem SolvingAnalysisCreativity

Written CommunicationVerbal CommunicationVisual CommunicationListeningQuestioningWork with NumbersWork with IT

Autonomy, Accountability, Working with Others

Personal Attributes

Team WorkingInitiativeLeadershipPersonal Development PlanningSelf AwarenessSelf Reliance

Adaptability and FlexibilityAssertivenessPlanning and Time ManagementCommitment and MotivationResilienceConfidence

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

45%

0%

18%

0%

9%9%

18%

1. Personal attributes/ capabilities

2. Autonomy, Accountability,Working with others

3. Generic Cognitive Skills4. Practical skills5. Communication /ICT /

Numeracy skills6. Discipline Knowledge and

understanding7. Applied knowledge and

understanding

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

0%

9%

0%

55%

18%18%

0%

1. Personal attributes/ capabilities

2. Autonomy, Accountability, Working with others

3. Generic Cognitive Skills4. Practical skills5. Communication/ICT/

Numeracy skills6. Discipline Knowledge and

understanding7. Applied knowledge and

understanding

Sections◦ Placement◦ Academic◦ Practical◦ Personal◦ Social

Claire Natalie Natalie Jorge Amanda Angela Ashley Ashley Alison Alison Chioma

Emma Janine Marc Marc Mhairi Nikki Rachel Rachel Suzanne

Graham MacAlpine Jennifer Lynch Katie Leck Lynn Burt Arthur Kennedy Carol-Anne Tominey Caroline Gillies Joanne Neilson

Katarzyna Pietrzak Mark Ross Nicola Bonnar Nicola McLauglin Nicola Reid Rachel Geddes Scott Roberts

Greater understanding and awareness of foreign language and foreign culture

Development of essential generic employability skills and attributes

Better balance of attributes and skills (Exc. Generic Cognitive skills)

Ability to recognise development of attributes and skills

Personal growth/ maturity