Industrial training - more than just work experience?

摘要

For a number of years it has been apparent that students who have some sort of industrial training placement as punt of their degree profile perform better in their final year studies than those following a full-time route. In a previous paper [lithe author highlighted the benefits of industrial training placements to all three groups of participants: the students, the institutions and the host companies. This paper reviews these aspects and in particular focuses on the benefits to the student in terms of the development of a professional attitude and, perhaps more importantly, in the acquisition of communication and IT skills including various CAD, CAE and RPD experiences. The paper draws on student case study material as well as on information from training placement companies in terms of their perceived and actual requirements with respect to students' abilities, knowledge, attitude, interpersonal skills, practical skills and academic profile. Information is included that derives from surveys I interviews with key employers and proposals are made as to how this information can inform and influence course design. Some degrees are beginning to add work place learning modules to the student diet throughout the course; examples of content and anticipated learning outcomes of such approaches are also included. The paper considers whether or not the use of mandatory work placements and or work place learning modules are strategies that provide the way forward in avoiding courses becoming overloaded with CAD training. It further examines how the increased use of computers at school level may eventually ease the problem of CAD overload.