INT-Hybrid - An international comparative study of work-based learning programmes in Higher Education

It is suggested that hybrid studies support the development of both academic knowledge and employability through the combination of gaining practical experiences in the workplace and engagement in academic learning processes at higher education institutions. Given the growing policy interests and demand for these hybrid provisions especially internationally in recent years, the questions arise: How effective are these hybrid programmes in achieving the educational policy goals? How supportive are the institutional setups for these hybrid programmes? And ultimately, how do they support student success? The project INT-hybrid focuses at the macro, meso and micro level on institutional and individual factors that lead to academic success in hybrid studies in an international comparison.

This comparative study focuses on Germany, England and Austria. In addition to exploring the educational policy intentions behind hybrid programmes and the institutional designs supporting hybrid programmes, individual factors leading to student success will also be examined. We will investigate academic-vocational self-concepts of students, their learning behavior, and students’ time investment into the academic and the practical parts of the hybrid programmes as potential contributors to their success. Thus the research aims at generating knowledge through empirical research about structures and processes that support success off students participating in hybrid programmes.