^{The project team are pictured left to right: Karen Wain, Work Learning Officer, Lynn Naven, Research Officer, Irene Bell, Project Manager and Jennifer Kirk, Project Secretary.}

Aiming University Learning @ Work is an exciting new Project aimed at getting students better prepared for the workplace, by embedding work related learning in the curriculum to enhance their long-term employability.

This innovative £2m Project (£1.2m funded by the Scottish Funding Council's Strategic Change Grant), is now underway and was launched officially on 8 February 2007, in the University of Glasgow, UoG, by the Principal, Sir Muir Russell and the Chair of the SFC, John McClelland.

Who is involved?

• Three universities are involved, the University of Glasgow as the lead partner, the Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of St Andrews.
• The Project is funded through a Strategic Change Grant from the Scottish Funding Council.

How long will the Project last?

• The Project is funded for three years, although it is anticipated that the benefits will be sustained after this period.
• There will be three initial phases which will incorporate three strands of activity:
  • Research
  • Exploring and Developing Opportunities for Work Experience
  • Support for Embedding work related learning

Who is the Project aimed at?

• Initially it will be aimed at undergraduate students on non-vocational courses in Biosciences, Business & Management, History, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.

Why?

• Recently, there has been an increasing emphasis on, and recognition of, the need to enhance students` long-term employability.
• This is particularly true of those subject areas, which do not traditionally have a `history` of work experience or work related learning for students.
• To create a strategic `shift` by creating sustainable change within Higher Education Institutions.

How will this happen?

• The Project will research the barriers and opportunities in embedding work related learning in curricula.
• The Project will pilot models for sustainable work related learning across a range of disciplines.
• The Project will explore the feasibility of collaborative relationships, e.g. with employers, in the enhancement of work related learning.

This project is now finished.  For further infoamtion please contact: Jane Weir, Director, Careers Service, University of Glasgow, 0141 330 4519