Work Experience Benefits
INTRODUCTION
The importance of work placement as a part of higher education can not be disputed. A number of studies ( Bennett, Dunne & Carre, 2000; Arnold, Loan-Clarke, Harrington & Hart, 1999) have proved that skills gained at work placements are very important and sought after by employers. Students with work placement experience become more attractive as future employees. (Arnold et al.1999) However Crebert, Bates, Bell, Patrick & Cragnolili (2004) believe that higher education institutions should advertise work placements not only for employment prospects, but for the development of the whole person throughout the degree program and even beyond. This research will try to identify the key generic skills, which may be gained at work placements and to what extent may these affect the student 's performance in their final year.
LITERATURE REVIEW
In today 's world, new graduates have to face many more challenges when entering the graduate recruiting market, in comparison to what predecessors had to face. Many of them work for international organisations and are required to be flexible, cooperative, work longer hours and to be aware of inter- cultural differences ( Crebert et al. 2004). Harvey (1999) believes that the reason behind it is that most organisations have undergone significant change in the last decade and most are developing structures and practices to enhance their flexibility for further change. Traditional 'job for life ' securities that characterised the workplace some time ago are disappearing and graduates have to be prepared for uncertainty in their future career.
On the other hand a lot of young people don 't even know what they want to do with lives, so they just continue studding at university after they finish a college.
'What career? How many undergraduates know what they want to do, and what is the likelihood of them getting those jobs anyway? The object
The importance of work placement as a part of higher education can not be disputed. A number of studies ( Bennett, Dunne & Carre, 2000; Arnold, Loan-Clarke, Harrington & Hart, 1999) have proved that skills gained at work placements are very important and sought after by employers. Students with work placement experience become more attractive as future employees. (Arnold et al.1999) However Crebert, Bates, Bell, Patrick & Cragnolili (2004) believe that higher education institutions should advertise work placements not only for employment prospects, but for the development of the whole person throughout the degree program and even beyond. This research will try to identify the key generic skills, which may be gained at work placements and to what extent may these affect the student 's performance in their final year.
LITERATURE REVIEW
In today 's world, new graduates have to face many more challenges when entering the graduate recruiting market, in comparison to what predecessors had to face. Many of them work for international organisations and are required to be flexible, cooperative, work longer hours and to be aware of inter- cultural differences ( Crebert et al. 2004). Harvey (1999) believes that the reason behind it is that most organisations have undergone significant change in the last decade and most are developing structures and practices to enhance their flexibility for further change. Traditional 'job for life ' securities that characterised the workplace some time ago are disappearing and graduates have to be prepared for uncertainty in their future career.
On the other hand a lot of young people don 't even know what they want to do with lives, so they just continue studding at university after they finish a college.
'What career? How many undergraduates know what they want to do, and what is the likelihood of them getting those jobs anyway? The object
References: Arnold J., Loan – Clarke J., Harrington A., Hart C. (1999) Students’ perception in competence development in undergraduate business-related degrees. Studies in Higher Education 24, No 1, 43-59 Barker, J Bennett N., Dunne E., Carr C. (2000) Skills development in higher education and employment Buckingham: Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press Blackwell A., Bowes L., Harvey A., Hesketh A.J., Knight P.T Bourner T., Ellerker M. (1998) Sandwich placements: improving the learning experience – part 1. Education + Training 40 · No 6/7, 283–287 Crebert G., Bates M., Bell B., Patrick C.J., Cragnolini V Crebert G., Bates M., Bell B., Patrick C.J., Cragnolini V. (2004) Developing generic skills at university, during work placement and in employment: graduates’ perceptions Higher Education Research & Development 23, No. 2, 148-165 Harvey L Herbert I., Rothwell A. (2005) Managing you work placement. Skills-based approach. Palgrave Mcmillan Margerison C., McCann D. (1990) Team management, London : W. H. Allen McIntyre, J., Richings, C Saunders M., Lewis P., Thornhill A. (2007) Research methods for business students. Financial Times/Prentice Hall Schaafsma H.,(1996) Back to the real world: work placements revisited Smith K., Clegg S., Lawrence E., Todd M.J. (2007) The challenges of reflection: students learning from work placements. Innovations in Education and Teaching International 44, No 2, 131-141