Dr Ella Taylor-Smith E.Taylor-Smith@napier.ac.uk
Senior Research Fellow
Placement or practicalities? Barriers and disincentives to work experience, as reported by computing students
Taylor-Smith, Ella; Smith, Sally; Smith, Colin
Authors
Prof Sally Smith S.Smith@napier.ac.uk
Head of Graduate Apprenticeships and Skills Development and Professor
Dr Colin Smith Cf.Smith@napier.ac.uk
Associate Professor
Abstract
Having relevant work experience, such as a placement or internship, is valued by employers in the technology sector and can improve employment outcomes for computing graduates (Shadbolt 2016). However, gaining good work experience positions is competitive; some applications are unsuccessful and some students do not apply; some students feel unable to do work placements due to personal or contextual constraints. This study explores the perspectives of computing students at two UK universities, in order to identify factors that might advantage some students over others. A qualitative approach focuses on students’ perceptions and circumstances, collected through free-text responses to a survey, combined with data relating to students’ ethnicity, social class, and their parents’ education. This approach highlights specific challenges faced by individual students. These individuals’ challenges are also instances of important factors influencing access to placement, with implications for institutions and policy makers interested in improving equality of opportunity.
Citation
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., & Smith, C. (2017, December). Placement or practicalities? Barriers and disincentives to work experience, as reported by computing students. Paper presented at Society for Research Into Higher Education (SRHE) Annual Conference
Presentation Conference Type | Conference Paper (unpublished) |
---|---|
Conference Name | Society for Research Into Higher Education (SRHE) Annual Conference |
Start Date | Dec 6, 2017 |
End Date | Dec 8, 2017 |
Deposit Date | Oct 10, 2017 |
Publicly Available Date | Mar 29, 2024 |
Keywords | placement, employability, work experience, capitals, diversity |
Public URL | http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/995910 |
Additional Information | An output from the Work Experience Joint Study with University of Greenwich. |
Files
Placement or practicalities? Barriers and disincentives to work experience, as reported by computing students (accepted version)
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