Tailored to employer needs

1. High • Characterised by: • Influence on curriculum • Case studies • Guest lectures • Work experience • Live projects High • Characterised by: • Learners as students • Broad based provision • Academic/PB led • Campus/classroom based • Limited development of work related skills • Minimal initial employer investment • Significant post qualification knowledge and skills development Collaborative Partnership (Work-based) Employer Involvement Shared understanding and objectives (Work-related) • Characterised by: • Learners in employment • Tailored provision • Workplace and classroom based learning • Develops both knowledge and competences • Recognises existing training and skills • Significant up front investment • Enhanced relevance • Applied knowledge • Better understanding of the workplace • Recruitment opportunities • Modest investment Recognition of co-dependence (Subject led) Low Low Tailored to employer needs Continuum of employer engagement

2. Established Collaborative Partnerships – Who and Why? • ICT – BT, Vodafone, O2, HP, • Engineering – Rail, Aerospace, Automotive, Power • Retail – Supermarkets, Builders Merchants, Fashion, Automotive • Health – Regional consortia • Petrochemicals – Refineries • Chambers of Commerce

3. Impact in the workplace of employees sent on work based HE. The employers reported that: • employees gained a broader understanding of the job and the industry • employees performed better in the job • employees were able to bring extra current and relevant knowledge to the company and share techniques • employee motivation and commitment to the company increased • employees demonstrated increased confidence in applying skills and knowledge • employees cascaded the knowledge they acquired to their colleagues • employees exhibited a willingness to take on tasks they would not have tackled before, better communication skills, and enhanced team working; they also offered well though-out solutions to problems and an eagerness to learn and embrace wider aspects of the business Source: Research commissioned by fdf undertaken by CHERI/LSN

4. Impact in the workplace of employees on work based HE. The employees reported that: • gaining new subject knowledge and an understanding of the theories linked to work based practice • development of skills such as critical reasoning and evidence-based evaluation • development of a range of transferable skills such as group working, communication skills • an opportunity to share and discuss experiences and working practices, to learn from others and broaden ones horizons • students on bespoke programmes met with individuals from other departments and broke down interdepartmental boundaries • some students gained promotion or addition responsibilities at work • many reported that their studies had changed them as a person in terms of increasing confidence, learning to take initiative, interact with others, and adding a new dimension to life Source: Research commissioned by fdf undertaken by Foundation Direct