Our two Placements Toolkits (previously Contextual Learning Toolkits) are the result of the research conducted to address the recommendations of the Perkins Review of Engineering Skills and the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Universe of Engineering Report about engineering student’s placements in companies.
The report is part of the close work that the EPC has being doing with the NCUB on its “engineering workwith” hub of information for employers on how to work with university engineering departments to provide work experience opportunities and other forms of collaboration to enhance the work-readiness of students, and follows the outcomes of a survey conducted by the EPC during September/October 2015 on Contextual Learning in UK HE Engineering.
The report includes the main findings of the research aimed to explore engineering students’ placement experiences and case studies. Two separate, but interlinked, toolkits, were developed:
- Your placement journey: Toolkit for students
- Engineering placements: Toolkit for universities and employers
The toolkit for Students was designed to support students to get the best from their placement experience.
The toolkit for Universities and Employers was designed to support higher education institutions and employers to enhance the experience and the value of students’ placements.
Structure
The toolkits were structured to support the placement experience in three key stages: before, during and after placement.
For the purpose of the toolkits:
- a placement is where learning opportunities are available for the student to undertake engineering practice under guidance and supervision;
- an academic supervisor is the key link at the university, during the placement (if applicable);
- a placement supervisor is the direct manager at the company, during the placement.
Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.
