Experiential Learning Guide: Workplace Guide
Where does this sit on the Experiential Learning Continuum?
Learning about work: a short one-time experience that help students understand the key concepts, trends and practices relevant to a particular industry/sector (e.g., linking to real-world examples, inviting guest speakers in).
What is it?
Students undertake a structured, short-term, guided visit to a specific workplace, agency or organisation. The purpose of the visit is usually to allow students to undertake an observation of practice, to interact with industry professionals and / or to provide insights into real working environments.
Workplace visits could last from a few hours to a full day and may include activities like workplace tours, presentations, Q&A sessions or interactive activities – such as working on a live challenge or brief. A workplace visit can be organised for a whole class, a programme cohort, or for smaller groups.
This activity is suitable for any discipline given the wide variation of workplaces across the central belt of Scotland and is a great opportunity to broaden students’ awareness of where they knowledge and skills gained from their degree are applied.
How does it work?
A lecturer approaches an organisation willing to host students. This organisation should be appropriate to the content of the course and / or wider degree programme.
In collaboration with the organisation, a visit plan should be co-developed to ensure priorities of all parties (students, academics, organisation) have been considered / met. This should include things like structure of the visit, timings, content to be covered, who will be involved and any health and safety considerations required.
A brief should then be provided to students in advance to help maximise engagement. For example, this should include information on: why this organisation has been chosen, how this is relevant to course content, what opportunities they have to observe the application of knowledge and / or skills from the course, specific learning outcomes to consider, any questions to prepare, what to wear…
On the day, students will visit the workplace with the lecturer to observe and participate in the structured programme. Afterwards, students should be asked to reflect on or discuss their experience, specifically linking this to application of knowledge and / or skills and future career aspirations.
This activity works well at any level but would be particularly useful at an early stage.
Does it work?
If the activity is well designed, it can support learning by:
- Bridging the gap between academic study and real-world contexts, helping students to visualise and connect what they are learning to their future
- Increasing student motivation by showing how knowledge and skills are applied in practice
- Boosting career awareness, especially for students from underrepresented or widening participation backgrounds
- Encouraging reflection on course content, workplace expectations and more
- Building student confidence and supporting them to develop their professional network and practice the art of networking
- Giving students access to professional environments, which is particularly valuable for students with limited or no prior exposure.
What do I need?
- A willing organisation to host and shape the visit (consider contacting your College Careers & Employability Manager for support)
- A clear and varied schedule for the visit
- A plan of how to travel to and from the organisaiton
- Briefing materials for students about the visit, including information on how the workplace visit links to the course
You may also wish to consider:
- Opportunities for students to reflect on the activity, potentially through formative or summative assessment (such as a reflective report)
- A way to collect feedback from students and the organisation to evaluate impact and improve / inform any future workplace visits
- Health and safety measures
- Risk assessments
- Safeguarding checks
- Insurance cover
References and further reading
There is limited reference to / specific further reading about workplace visits. There is, however, lots of reference to the benefits of integrating employer engagement into the curriculum. Workplace visits may also be referred to as company visits, insight days or job shadowing.
Employability programmes and work placements in UK Higher Education
Work experience, job shadowing and workplace visits
Leadership shadowing for employability skills development
Insight Days, Newcastle University
Insight Days, University of Strathclyde