Technology Enhancement for Quality Assurance and Management of Tailored Industry Work Placements

• Main Author: Julie Dunne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Technological University Dublin
• Series: Irish Journal of Academic Practice
• Subjects: work-placement; learning agreement; reflective assessment; blog; google apps
• Online Access: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijap/vol9/iss1/4

This practice-sharing paper describes the development of an effective process to address various challenges to implementing quality driven, administratively sustainable and pedagogically appropriate work-placement, particularly where career options are broad and appropriate industry opportunities diverse, such that success involves tailoring to be mutually beneficial to all stakeholders. Effectiveness leveraged technology, firstly to manage the complex process of placing individuals in an appropriate role within a suitable organisation; secondly to quality assure the learning outcomes in diverse industry-based learning environments; and thirdly to enhance assessment and feedback of core competencies and graduate attributes. Whilst transferable across various sectors and technology solutions, the context involved food industry placements, and use of Google Apps and blog tool in the Blackboard VLE. Technology has improve the management of the work-placement process, from generating ample high-quality and relevant opportunities, increasing productivity through better communication whilst simultaneously guaranteeing quality by collaboration for defining suitable learning activities, and the creation of individualised placement Learning Agreements. Meanwhile, online blog assessments support students' reflection on learning and foster a community of learning amongst peers. This paper aims to provide guidance to those involved in engagement at the interface between industry and the university for similar work-based learning.