The impact of work placement on graduate employment in computing: outcomes from a UK-based study (2018)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, C., & Webster, G. (2018). The impact of work placement on graduate employment in computing: outcomes from a UK-based study. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 19(4), 359-369

This study followed recent computing graduates into the workplace and explored their undergraduate experiences of work placements and subsequent impact on graduate employment. Whilst studying at one of 14 Scottish universities, participants (n=99) ha... Read More about The impact of work placement on graduate employment in computing: outcomes from a UK-based study.

From work-integrated learning to learning-integrated work: motivations and apprehensions of Graduate Apprentices (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, C., & Varey, A. (2018, June). From work-integrated learning to learning-integrated work: motivations and apprehensions of Graduate Apprentices. Presented at 3rd International Research Symposium on Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education (WACE), Stuttgart, Germany

Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) degrees bring new collaborations between universities and employers and new opportunities for apprentices—to gain a university degree, while also being in formal employment. In 2017, Scotland introduced funding for GAs: s... Read More about From work-integrated learning to learning-integrated work: motivations and apprehensions of Graduate Apprentices.

Towards graduate employment: exploring student identity through a university-wide employability project (2017)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Smith, C., Taylor-Smith, E., & Fotheringham, J. (2019). Towards graduate employment: exploring student identity through a university-wide employability project. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 43(5), 628-640. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877x.2017.1390077

Students have expectations of their university education leading to graduate careers, with universities investing considerable resources in institution-wide initiatives designed to enhance opportunities for student work placements and work-related le... Read More about Towards graduate employment: exploring student identity through a university-wide employability project.

Taking education for granted: the role of placement in computing science (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., Smith, C., Taylor-Smith, E., & Webster, G. (2017, June). Taking education for granted: the role of placement in computing science. Presented at Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference

The importance of placements and internships was highlighted in the 2016 Shadbolt Review of Computer Science Degree Accreditation and Graduate Employability – indeed the second recommendation of the review was to extend and promote work experience .... Read More about Taking education for granted: the role of placement in computing science.

Rich Pictures of the Future (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., Smith, C., Berg, T., & Bowen, T. (2017, June). Rich Pictures of the Future. Presented at Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference

The acceleration of technological innovation means that higher education must prepare students for an unknown future like never before, and help them see their position in relation to an increasingly globalised economy. Transition from university int... Read More about Rich Pictures of the Future.

Visualising the future: surfacing student perspectives on post-graduation prospects using rich pictures (2017)
Journal Article
Berg, T., Bowen, T., Smith, C., & Smith, S. (2017). Visualising the future: surfacing student perspectives on post-graduation prospects using rich pictures. Higher Education Research and Development, 36(7), 1339-1354. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2017.1325855

The gradual commodification of higher education in the context of an increased focus on graduate employability attributes together with evolving labour markets is creating challenges for universities and students alike. For universities, there has be... Read More about Visualising the future: surfacing student perspectives on post-graduation prospects using rich pictures.

In search of graduate employability: An exploration of student identity (2017)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Smith, C., Taylor-Smith, E., & Fotheringham, J. (2017). In search of graduate employability: An exploration of student identity. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 18(1), 15-24

Universities are adopting institution-wide projects to increase student work placements and work-related learning across all subject disciplines. However, there are large variations between programs in uptake, with limited evidence explaining why thi... Read More about In search of graduate employability: An exploration of student identity.

Learning for the Workplace: Exploring professional identity in search of meaningful alternatives to student work placement (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Webster, G., Smith, S., & Smith, C. (2016, December). Learning for the Workplace: Exploring professional identity in search of meaningful alternatives to student work placement. Paper presented at Society for Research into Higher Education 2016

Moves towards the marketisation of higher education have led to greater priority being placed upon students undertaking relevant work experience while they study. Recognising a strong demand for placements, the e-Placement Scotland project set out to... Read More about Learning for the Workplace: Exploring professional identity in search of meaningful alternatives to student work placement.

From Interest to Decision: A Comparative Exploration of Student Attitudes and Pathways to Co-op Programs in the United States and the United Kingdom (2016)
Journal Article
Ramirez, N., Smith, S., Smith, C. F., Berg, T., Strubel, B., Ohland, M., & Main, J. (2016). From Interest to Decision: A Comparative Exploration of Student Attitudes and Pathways to Co-op Programs in the United States and the United Kingdom. International Journal of Engineering Education, 32(5A), 1867-1878

Cooperative education programs (co-op) play a vital role in developing engineering and computing students’ applied technological skills and professional self-confidence. Nevertheless, not all students choose to participate in co-ops. Through empirica... Read More about From Interest to Decision: A Comparative Exploration of Student Attitudes and Pathways to Co-op Programs in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Matching and mismatch: understanding employer expectations of work placement applicants (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, C., & Smith, S. (2016, September). Matching and mismatch: understanding employer expectations of work placement applicants. Paper presented at ACEN

The success and sustainability of work-integrated learning (WIL) is an abiding concern for universities, as institutions seek to mainstream WIL within academic programmes. A supply of placement opportunities, and students successfully being appointe... Read More about Matching and mismatch: understanding employer expectations of work placement applicants.

Exploring student identity through a university-wide graduate employability initiative (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., Smith, C., Taylor-Smith, E., Fotheringham, J., & Dencer-Brown, I. (2016, June). Exploring student identity through a university-wide graduate employability initiative. Paper presented at WACE International Research Symposium

Universities are adopting institution-wide projects designed to enhance opportunities for student work placements and work-related learning across all subject disciplines, as inclusion and graduate employability are increasingly expressed as universi... Read More about Exploring student identity through a university-wide graduate employability initiative.

Enhancing the ‘Employability Journey’ for Year 3 direct entrant computing students (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, C. F., & Durkin, P. (2015, June). Enhancing the ‘Employability Journey’ for Year 3 direct entrant computing students. Presented at QAA Enhancement Themes

This paper addresses the theme of transitions during study through the experience of college students as they become 3rd year direct entrants on computing degree programmes, and as they prepare to undertake either graduate work or summer placement at... Read More about Enhancing the ‘Employability Journey’ for Year 3 direct entrant computing students.

Women in ICT: exploring professional Identity on an executive masters program (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., Smith, C. F., & Varey, A. (2015, October). Women in ICT: exploring professional Identity on an executive masters program. Paper presented at 6th Annual Conference on Computer Science Education: Innovation and Technology (CSEIT 2015), Singapore

Despite years of purposeful activity there is still a shortfall in the numbers of women enrolling onto computing courses in the UK and elsewhere, while many who join the profession then leave. This ‘leaky-pipeline’ phenomenon is a concern for employe... Read More about Women in ICT: exploring professional Identity on an executive masters program.

Making co-op work for you: a comparative exploration of student attitudes to co-op programs in the United States and the United Kingdom (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Ramirez, N., Smith, S., Smith, C., Berg, T., Strubel, B., Ohland, M., & Main, J. (2015, August). Making co-op work for you: a comparative exploration of student attitudes to co-op programs in the United States and the United Kingdom. Paper presented at World Conference on Co-op and Work Integrated Learning (WACE 19th), Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, Japan

University engineering and computing courses have a long tradition of co-operative education that plays a vital role in developing students' applied skills and giving confidence to students and potential employers. Nevertheless, not all students choo... Read More about Making co-op work for you: a comparative exploration of student attitudes to co-op programs in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Supporting student transitions to placement: developing a new self-identity. (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., & Smith, C. F. (2015, June). Supporting student transitions to placement: developing a new self-identity. Presented at Enhancement and Innovation in Higher Education

Employer expectations of graduates, as evidenced by the job descriptions of graduate vacancies, often include relevant work experience; however meeting student demand for placements remains a challenge for universities. In practice there is generally... Read More about Supporting student transitions to placement: developing a new self-identity..

Can pay, should pay? Exploring employer and student perceptions of paid and unpaid placements (2015)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Smith, C., & Caddell, M. (2015). Can pay, should pay? Exploring employer and student perceptions of paid and unpaid placements. Active learning in higher education, 16(2), 149-164. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787415574049

Students can benefit from applying their emerging skillsets through a work placement, both in terms of consolidating their learning and in gaining a better appreciation of their subject area. However, the main motivation for students in completing a... Read More about Can pay, should pay? Exploring employer and student perceptions of paid and unpaid placements.

What’s in it for me? Making the case for paid student placements in computer science. (2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., & Smith, C. F. (2014, July). What’s in it for me? Making the case for paid student placements in computer science. Paper presented at STEM 2014

Recognising the need for skilled computer science graduates, the university funding body in Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is supporting a Scotland-wide student placement project, e-Placement Scotland, to create 750 new paid student pla... Read More about What’s in it for me? Making the case for paid student placements in computer science..

Can pay, should pay? Exploring paid and unpaid work opportunities from employer and student perspectives. (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Caddell, M., McIlwhan, R., Irving, C., Smith, C. F., & Smith, S. (2013, June). Can pay, should pay? Exploring paid and unpaid work opportunities from employer and student perspectives. Presented at QAA Enhancement Themes

Within current university-focused discussions around how to enhance and support student employability, considerable emphasis has been placed on gaining work experience, either through volunteering or via work placements and internships. There is grow... Read More about Can pay, should pay? Exploring paid and unpaid work opportunities from employer and student perspectives..

Building Employer Partnerships: a regional placement perspective. (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., & Smith, C. F. (2013, July). Building Employer Partnerships: a regional placement perspective. Paper presented at HEA Annual Conference

The case for paid placements as transformational for students has been made; indeed the Wilson report (A Review of Business- University Collaboration, http://www.gov.uk) exhorts all universities to consider offering placements on their degrees, in re... Read More about Building Employer Partnerships: a regional placement perspective..

Can Pay, Should Pay? Comparing employer and student outcomes of paid and unpaid work opportunities (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, C. F., Smith, S., & Irving, C. (2013, April). Can Pay, Should Pay? Comparing employer and student outcomes of paid and unpaid work opportunities. Paper presented at HEA STEM Conference

In a time of high youth unemployment, when relevant work experience is often cited as the most important factor in finding a graduate job, computing students are being advised to pursue work placements or other work experience during their studies to... Read More about Can Pay, Should Pay? Comparing employer and student outcomes of paid and unpaid work opportunities.