SOME CASES OF WORK-BASED LEARNING IN EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Abstract

The paper attempts to provide some insight into development and make suggestions for improvement of students’ work-based learning (WBL) and practical placements based on the analysis of some WBL cases in European universities. These proposals aim to improve the quality of education and ensure the decent employment of the graduates. The large-scale survey of employers revealed their high interest in the admission of students for practical placements. The proposals for the organization of WBL and practical placements based on close university-business cooperation were set forward within the ERASMUS+ project «UniLab – From university to labour market in the 21st century: a step forward in work-based placements” which embraced seven countries, including Russia with four university participants. Theoretical and empirical analysis of the EU cases helped the project partners identified some future-proofed tools for the Russian HEIs. To achieve the goals set in the project, the following methods were used: document analysis, literature review, study the best experience of the UniLab partners, and the survey of companies. The article makes contribution to the existing volume of research and knowledge related to the university-business partnerships, and suggests positive steps that need to be taken for upgrading WBL efficiency