Open AccessTechnology enhanced food industry engagement and work placement curriculum quality assurance
Author(s) -
Julie Dunne
Publication year - 2019
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
DOI - 10.33178/lc2019.09
Subject(s) - work (physics) , curriculum , quality assurance , quality (philosophy) , process (computing) , set (abstract data type) , public relations , medical education , best practice , work in process , business , engineering management , computer science , knowledge management , marketing , political science , psychology , engineering , pedagogy , medicine , mechanical engineering , philosophy , epistemology , law , programming language , service (business) , operating system
A recent report has identified several challenges and barriers from the employer perspective that can limit their ability to engage with work-placement (Jackson, Rowbottom, Ferns, & McLarend, 2017). These include a lack of shared understanding between the University and Industry of what is involved in work-placement; misalignment between employer and university expectations on the purpose and nature of the placement experience, especially what constitutes a quality placement and how this can be achieved; and ability to locate a suitable student. Additionally, not being approached by Universities and/or access to relevant University staff who arrange work-placements can be problematic. For unstructured work-placements, identifying suitable projects for students to undertake was found to be a considerable challenge. Recommendations to the University to reduce such barriers centre around developing collaborative relationships. In Ireland, specific guidelines to facilitate quality work-placement have been compiled in the ‘Roadmap for Academic-Employment Partnerships (REAP) Work-placement in Third Level-Programmes’ report (Sheridan & Linehan, 2011), and focus mainly on communications, learning agreements, mentoring practices, student selection processes, reflection on practice, and assessment and feedback mechanisms. This paper will set out how the recommendations of the REAP report for work-placement were realised in TU Dublin Food related programmes, and the important role that technology played in this process.