The initiative is a scalable programme of live employer-led engagement opportunities and open access activities designed to complement students’ vocational studies, supporting their progression into further or higher education and employment.
What makes it unique
While college students taking part in work experience, receiving careers advice and gaining industry insights might not seem ground-breaking, it is rare for a college to provide all three things as a tailored bespoke package.
Now, what started as a fix to mitigate against barriers to student and employer engagement as a result of COVID-19 has grown into so much more.
The Virtual Work Experience Week blueprint, developed by Walsall College and employer partners across the country has something to offer all further education students regardless of their course subject, level of study, learning needs and any learning barriers they may face such as regular access to digital/IT resources.
Challenges and opportunities
In order to create the most effective learning opportunities within the Virtual Work Experience Programme, the Team needed to find ways to consider learner preferences. Different students have different environments that help them focus and ways of being taught that they are most receptive to.
As we developed the programme, we quickly learnt that the best online learning incorporates a variety of different content types. To avoid the pitfalls of long, static pages of text or basic click-and-watch videos, our bespoke GOAL (Moodle) site (individually designed to support each cohort experience), included animations, podcasts, scripted videos playing out scenarios, interviews with subject experts and LinkedIn Learning courses. High learner participation and engagement was the result.
By making this content bite-sized and accessible on mobile devices and gaming consoles, the students had the freedom to customise their experience to suit them.
What were the benefits to stakeholders
The skills gap costs businesses £120bn every year and in the West Midlands qualification levels are 12.7% lower than the national average. Virtual Work Experience Week reflects local and national skills priorities, giving employers large scale, direct access to their future talent tool and providing students with a direct line of sight to work. It is an additional opportunity to make them aware of how they can make a positive impact in their future workplace with wider interpersonal skills, professional confidence, positive attitudes to work, motivation and health and wellbeing.
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Many of our students have previously reported struggling to access traditional work experience, especially those from hard to reach areas or from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Through our initiative, we enabled nearly 2,000 students to engage with employers and develop their understanding of the world of work in a meaningful way. Moving forward, the initiative allows us to offer a hybrid solution for work experience, through a choice of online or on-site placements that provide maximum flexibility for both employers and our students.
What effect does winning the Beacon Award have on the programme
Having our Virtual Work Experience Week programme recognised as an example of excellence in real world learning provides confidence that virtual/online experiences do have a role to play in preparing our young people for successful journeys through the world of work.
Blending traditional work experience programmes with online opportunities remove barriers. Employers can reach young people based anywhere and engage underrepresented talent which historically has been inaccessible. By moving programmes online, this talent pool becomes even bigger and more valuable in offering new opportunities to ALL young people that help them develop and realise their full potential.
How could someone else recreate your Virtual Work Experience Week
My top tip - be bold and be prepared to step out of a traditional approach to work experience. If we can do it anyone can.
At Walsall College we would be pleased to offer consultancy, webinars, and observation / participation opportunities, to ensure that all our further education colleagues from across the country can benefit from what we have learnt from initiating our virtual work experience programme.
Who to contact for more information
Jackie Bradnick, Work Experience Co-ordinator, Walsall College jbradnick@walsallcollege.ac.uk