Embedding sustainability in university work experience placements: a De Montfort University model

IF 3.2 3区管理学 Q1 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Education and Training Pub Date : 2022-10-24 DOI:10.1108/et-09-2021-0356

Tochukwu Ben C. Onyido, Zoe Allman, Pamela A. Hardaker, D. Rughani, Allan Letinov

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

PurposeThe 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/approachA 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.FindingsStudents 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 implicationsPlacements can potentially serve as a means of knowledge generation for universities while providing SMEs with cost-effective staff and innovation sustainability resources.Originality/valueA 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.

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在大学工作经验实习中嵌入可持续性:德蒙福特大学模式

目的探讨大学实习支持中小企业可持续经营的可行性。由于规模和资源的限制，许多中小企业可能更多地将可持续性视为一种负担，而不是一种增值商业战略。设计/方法/方法对英国德蒙特福特大学101名中小企业学生的可持续发展主题安置进行了为期两年的研究。这些实习的目的是作为一种传统的工作体验计划，同时也为学生提供学习、技能和方向，让他们成为公司内的可持续发展倡导者。该研究将学生的反思（通过每月日志等工具）与雇主和学生的访谈和问卷调查相结合，以评估安置的结果。Findings学生主要通过获取中小企业可持续发展绩效的信息来参与其安置的可持续发展方面，在可持续发展宣传（例如向公司提出社会环境计划）和倡议/行动领域也有大量参与。实践意义实习可能成为大学产生知识的一种手段，同时为中小企业提供具有成本效益的员工和创新可持续性资源。独创性/价值提出了一种针对大学安置计划的循环方法，利用从以前的安置中获得的关于中小企业可持续性表现的知识，使后来的安置学生群体对中小企业实施可持续性的挑战和机遇有一个务实的理解。

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来源期刊

Education and Training EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

13.90%

发文量

期刊介绍： Education + Training addresses the increasingly complex relationships between education, training and employment and the impact of these relationships on national and global labour markets. The journal gives specific consideration to young people, looking at how the transition from school/college to employment is achieved and how the nature of partnerships between the worlds of education and work continues to evolve. The journal explores vocationalism in learning and efforts to address employability within the curriculum, together with coverage of innovative themes and initiatives within vocational education and training. The journal is read by policy makers, educators and academics working in a wide range of fields including education, learning and skills development, enterprise and entrepreneurship education and training, induction and career development. Coverage: Managing the transition from school/college to work New initiatives in post 16 vocational education and training Education-Business partnerships and collaboration Links between education and industry The graduate labour market Work experience and placements The recruitment, induction and development of school leavers and graduates Young person employability and career development E learning in further and higher education Research news Reviews of recent publications.

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