Group 11: Work-related teaching and learning methods

work-related learning, university-business cooperation, teaching and learning methods

The focus of the group is to explore and compare the different policies, methods and practices about work-related learning in Higher Education. Under the common framework offered by European Commission, uni-versities in different countries propose a variety of methods and pro-jects in order to encourage the cooperation between universities and organizations. The European Commission invites universities to modify and modernize curricula and didactics to promote employability and entrepreneurship and to encourage knowledge transfer between higher education insti-tutions and companies. Furthermore, European universities offer pro-jects and practices based on the centrality of cooperation experiences and learner-centered teaching, learning activities and different ap-proaches, as problem-based and project-based learning experiences.

Learning outcomes of the comparative group:

1. Students will be able to identify the theoretical framework of Work-Related Learning
2. Students will map projects and practices proposed by their uni-versities concerning Work-Related Learning (i.e. projects pro-posed by Career/Internship Centers or integrated in the formal curriculum)

Comparative research question:

Which discussions about work-related learning do you find in your country (language)? Concerning your university, which projects does it propose to encourage Work-Related Learning (i.e. projects proposed by the University Career/Internship Center)? What is the role of different actors (instructors, students, organizations, etc.) in-volved in these projects? Concerning the formal curriculum and work-related teaching and learning methods, do you identify any projects/strategies in your university?

Context of comparison:

Students will compare their home universities’ projects and practices.

Categories of comparison:

1. University experiences and practices concerning Work-Related Learning
2. Types and objectives of the partnerships between Universities and Organizations (target, purposes, actors involved, way of cooperation…)
3. Definition and arguments to improve work-related teaching methods

References:

Cooper, L., Orrell, J., & Bowden, M. (2010). Work integrated learning: A guide to effective practice. Routledge.

Frison, D., Fedeli, M., & Taylor, E. (in press). Work-Related Learning: a survey on teaching and learning methods in the Italian Higher Education system. International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation. Proceedings of the 2015 Conference (Siviglia, 16–18 Novembre 2015).

Technopolis. (2012). Education in the Knowledge Triangle. http://www.mondragon.edu/en/international/files/OF%2035%201613%20Draft%20 final%20report%20and%20case%20studies%20121025-1.pdf.

Prof. Monica Fedeli, University of Padua, Italy

My main research interests are: Organizational Development, and Hu-man Resources Management, Teaching and Learning Methods in High-er Education and in non formal and informal settings. Work-related teaching and learning. Since 2008 (when I started my tenure track at University of Padua) I have been having an active role in several national and international projects: projects on lifelong learning, apprenticeship and employabil-ity, junior research fellowships for skills mapping, ESF projects on non-formal skills validation; faculty development and students voice in Higher Education.

Dr. Daniela Frison, University of Padua, Italy

PhD in Educational Sciences at the University of Padua (2012). Post-Doc Researcher at the Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education and Applied Psychology, University of Padua. Coordinator of the project PARIMUN: a University-Business Alliance to Promote Widespread Expertise which aims at developing intervention-researches beginning from business needs and carried out by graduating students in Educational Sciences. Areas of research: work-relate teaching and learning methods, university-business dialogue, methodology of training.