Outputs (56)

Workplace Mentor Training for Inclusion: Training resources for work-based learning mentors (2024)
Digital Artefact
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., Cecil, M., & Scott, A. (2024). Workplace Mentor Training for Inclusion: Training resources for work-based learning mentors. [Blog]

This is a resource for work-based learning mentors, with a special focus on mentoring for inclusion, featuring Key Elements of Inclusion for Mentors infographic and Intro to Inclusion animation.

It grew out of a collaborative research project betw... Read More about Workplace Mentor Training for Inclusion: Training resources for work-based learning mentors.

Being in Two Places at the Same Time: a Future for Hybrid Learning Based on Student Preferences (2024)
Journal Article
Fabian, K., Smith, S., & Taylor-Smith, E. (2024). Being in Two Places at the Same Time: a Future for Hybrid Learning Based on Student Preferences. TechTrends, 68(4), 693-704. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-00974-x

The Covid-19 pandemic moved focus from face-to-face learning to hybrid in Higher Education; many educators did not have previous experience of this mode prior to this shift in learning locations. One form of hybrid learning is “synchronous hybrid lea... Read More about Being in Two Places at the Same Time: a Future for Hybrid Learning Based on Student Preferences.

Investing in degree apprenticeships: Analysing experiences through Conservation of Resources Theory (2023)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., & Bratton, A. (2023, December). Investing in degree apprenticeships: Analysing experiences through Conservation of Resources Theory. Presented at 2023 SRHE International Research Conference, Birmingham, UK

Degree apprentices have reported finding work-life-study balance challenging. This study uses the Theory of Conservation of Resources (COR) to investigate the resources invested and gained by apprentices in the achievement of their goal of a degree w... Read More about Investing in degree apprenticeships: Analysing experiences through Conservation of Resources Theory.

Apprentices’ perspectives of the tripartite collaboration at the heart of degree apprenticeships: a longitudinal study (2023)
Journal Article
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., Fabian, K., & Bratton, A. (2023). Apprentices’ perspectives of the tripartite collaboration at the heart of degree apprenticeships: a longitudinal study. Journal of Workplace Learning, 35(8), 779-795. https://doi.org/10.1108/JWL-01-2023-0007

Purpose: The partnership which underpins degree apprenticeships is a tripartite collaboration between apprentices, employers, and universities. This study investigated the lived experiences and reflections of the apprentices at the centre, to inform... Read More about Apprentices’ perspectives of the tripartite collaboration at the heart of degree apprenticeships: a longitudinal study.

Direct entrants as route guides to the higher education landscape (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., & Fabian, K. (2022, December). Direct entrants as route guides to the higher education landscape. Presented at Mobilities in Higher Education: SRHE International Conference 2022, Online

Students who study for an HND at further education college and then join the university directly into the 3 rd year of their honours degree are a valuable segment of our academic community. This route provides opportunities for more people to gain HE... Read More about Direct entrants as route guides to the higher education landscape.

Mobilising more women into computing (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Shankland, C., Smith, S., & Barr, M. (2022, December). Mobilising more women into computing. Paper presented at Mobilities in Higher Education: SRHE International Conference 2022, Online

According to HESA data, UK universities' computing departments continue to suffer from a gender imbalance, where at present only 21% of students are female. This imbalance can deter women and non-binary people from applying and also be challenging fo... Read More about Mobilising more women into computing.

Apprentices' longitudinal perspectives of the tripartite collaboration at the heart of degree apprenticeships (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., & Fabian, K. (2022, September). Apprentices' longitudinal perspectives of the tripartite collaboration at the heart of degree apprenticeships. Paper presented at Organisational Learning, Knowledge and Capabilities, OLKC 2022, Trollhättan, Sweden

Purpose: In degree apprenticeships, the tripartite collaboration between the apprentice, the employer, and the university is key to success. As the apprentices are at the centre of the degree, their lived experience and reflections are essential to... Read More about Apprentices' longitudinal perspectives of the tripartite collaboration at the heart of degree apprenticeships.

Participant-centred planning framework for effective gender balance activities in tech (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Barnett, C., Smith, S., Barr, M., & Shankland, C. (2022, September). Participant-centred planning framework for effective gender balance activities in tech. Presented at The United Kingdom and Ireland Computing Education Research (UKICER) conference from the UK ACM Special Interest Group in Computing Science Education Chapter (UKICER 2022), Mountmellick, Ireland

The gender imbalance in the tech industry [21], mirrored in computing education [13], is problematic in terms of providing appropriate products and services for the whole population. This lack of diversity and inclusion is also self-perpetuating thro... Read More about Participant-centred planning framework for effective gender balance activities in tech.

An exploration of academic identity through the COVID-19 pandemic (2022)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Plum, K., Taylor-Smith, E., & Fabian, K. (2022). An exploration of academic identity through the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(9), 1290-1303. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2022.2072194

The COVID-19 global pandemic precipitated migration to online learning and teaching for students and universities. This study explored the change in self-identification in an academic role through the significant disruption caused by the urgent migra... Read More about An exploration of academic identity through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Degree Apprentices’ Lockdown Survey: Reflections on working and studying from home (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., & Fabian, K. (2021, December). Degree Apprentices’ Lockdown Survey: Reflections on working and studying from home. Presented at SRHE International Conference on Research into Higher Education, Online

During the first UK lockdown period, degree apprentices in two universities in Scotland were invited to complete a short qualitative survey with their reflections on starting to work and study from home. They were encouraged to complete the survey o... Read More about Degree Apprentices’ Lockdown Survey: Reflections on working and studying from home.

How are we positioning degree apprenticeships? Analysis of adverts (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Fabian, K., Taylor-Smith, E., & Smith, S. (2021, December). How are we positioning degree apprenticeships? Analysis of adverts. Presented at SRHE International Conference on Research into Higher Education, Online

Degree apprentices are recruited by employers, rather than universities, reflecting their status as paid employees, first and foremost. This study analysed job adverts for IT degree apprenticeship roles to investigate the: skills, attributes, and qua... Read More about How are we positioning degree apprenticeships? Analysis of adverts.

A multi-institutional exploration of the social mobility potential of degree apprenticeships (2021)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., Fabian, K., Zarb, M., Paterson, J., Barr, M., & Berg, T. (2021). A multi-institutional exploration of the social mobility potential of degree apprenticeships. Journal of Education and Work, 34(4), 488-503. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2021.1946494

This mixed-method study at six universities asked degree apprentices about their trajectories into the apprenticeship, to better understand the social mobility potential of apprenticeships. The degree apprenticeship offers a route to a degree for app... Read More about A multi-institutional exploration of the social mobility potential of degree apprenticeships.

Computing degree apprenticeships: An opportunity to address gender imbalance in the IT sector? (2020)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., Fabian, K., Barr, M., Berg, T., Cutting, D., Paterson, J., Young, T., & Zarb, M. (2020, October). Computing degree apprenticeships: An opportunity to address gender imbalance in the IT sector?. Presented at Frontiers in Education, Upsala, Sweden

This paper explores the potential for new work-based apprenticeship degrees to encourage more women into computing degrees and the IT sector. In the UK, women are currently under-represented on computing courses. Meanwhile the IT industry requires mo... Read More about Computing degree apprenticeships: An opportunity to address gender imbalance in the IT sector?.

Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Fabian, K., Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2019, September). Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education. Presented at 1st UK & Ireland Computing Education Research Conference (UKICER), Canterbury, United Kingdom

Students who progress to higher education from further education colleges are faced with academic, social, and logistical challenges during their transition. In general, they find university life more challenging compared to students who have been at... Read More about Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education.

Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer? (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., Fabian, K., Berg, T., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2019, July). Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer?. Presented at Innovation & Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE’19), Aberdeen, Scotland

This paper describes a study investigating whether apprenticeship computing degrees in Scotland are attracting additional entrants who will become IT professionals and fill a skills need. Government policy reports, from around the world, set out plan... Read More about Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer?.

Identity and belonging for graduate apprenticeships in computing: the experience of first cohort degree apprentices in Scotland (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., & Smith, C. (2019, July). Identity and belonging for graduate apprenticeships in computing: the experience of first cohort degree apprentices in Scotland. Presented at Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE), Aberdeen

In September 2017, our university’s first graduate apprentices began degrees in Software Development, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology Management for Business. This study explores how apprentices experience their association with the univers... Read More about Identity and belonging for graduate apprenticeships in computing: the experience of first cohort degree apprentices in Scotland.

Equality of opportunity for work experience? Computing students at two UK universities “play the game” (2019)
Journal Article
Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., Bacon, L., & Mackinnon, L. (2019). Equality of opportunity for work experience? Computing students at two UK universities “play the game”. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 40(3), 324-339. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2018.1489219

A recent UK Government commissioned study found concerning levels of unemployment among computing students from disadvantaged, black and minority ethnic backgrounds. The study highlighted that work experience was a factor in increased levels of gradu... Read More about Equality of opportunity for work experience? Computing students at two UK universities “play the game”.

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.

Graduate apprenticeships are great opportunities for individuals, but are they inclusive? (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., & Varey, A. (2018, December). Graduate apprenticeships are great opportunities for individuals, but are they inclusive?. Paper presented at Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) Annual Conference, Newport, Wales

Higher education-level apprenticeships can provide routes to university degrees for people without the financial resources for traditional degrees. In Scotland, the first cohorts of graduate apprentices began their studies in 2017, including cohorts... Read More about Graduate apprenticeships are great opportunities for individuals, but are they inclusive?.

Democratic Participation through Crocheted Memes. (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, C. F., & Smyth, M. (2018, July). Democratic Participation through Crocheted Memes. Presented at 9th International Conference on Social Media and Society - SMSociety '18

In a UK city, various crocheted protest banners have appeared, containing political statements concerning planned developments in their locations. Photos of these banners are shared across social media, raising awareness and potentially playing a rol... Read More about Democratic Participation through Crocheted Memes..