Embedding Sustainability in University Work Experience Placements: A De Montfort University Model

Autor/inn/en	Onyido, Tochukwu Ben C.; Allman, Zoe; Hardaker, Pamela; Rughani, Deepa; Letinov, Allan
Titel	Embedding Sustainability in University Work Experience Placements: A De Montfort University Model
Quelle	In: Education & Training, 64 (2022) 8-9, S.1037-1059 (23 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Onyido, Tochukwu Ben C.) ORCID (Letinov, Allan)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0040-0912
DOI	10.1108/ET-09-2021-0356
Schlagwörter	Sustainability; Models; Student Placement; Work Experience; College Students; Foreign Countries; Student Attitudes; Employer Attitudes; Education Work Relationship; United Kingdom + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Nachhaltigkeit; Analogiemodell; Schülerpraktikum; Employment experience; Job experience; Occupational experience; Berufserfahrung; Collegestudent; Ausland; Schülerverhalten; Arbeitgeberinteresse; Großbritannien
Abstract	Purpose: The paper looks at the feasibility of university placements supporting small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to operate in a sustainable manner. Due to size and resource constraints, many SMEs may regard sustainability more as a burden than a value-adding commercial strategy. Design/methodology/approach: A two-year study was conducted on the sustainability-themed placements of 101 students of De Montfort University, United Kingdom, in SMEs. The placements were designed with the purpose of acting as a traditional work experience scheme while also equipping students with learning, skills and orientation with which to act as sustainability champions within companies. The study combined the use of students' reflections (via tools such as monthly logbooks) with interviews and questionnaire surveys of both employers and students, in order to evaluate the outcomes of the placements. Findings: Students engaged with the sustainability aspect of their placements mainly by obtaining information on the sustainability performance of SMEs, with significant engagement also occurring in the areas of sustainability advocacy (e.g. proposing socio-environmental plans to companies) and initiatives/action. Practical implications: Placements can potentially serve as a means of knowledge generation for universities while providing SMEs with cost-effective staff and innovation sustainability resources. Originality/value: A circular approach to university placement programmes is proposed whereby the knowledge gained from previous placements about SMEs' sustainability performance is used to prepare later cohorts of placement students with a pragmatic understanding of challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of sustainability by SMEs. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01