The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between work placements and employability, through an analysis of the impact of a work placement on students’…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between work placements and employability, through an analysis of the impact of a work placement on students’ self-efficacy.
Design/methodology/approach
The basis of this paper is a large-scale work-based learning module at the University of Birmingham, the “Professional Development Module”. Students completed questionnaires both before and after they undertaken their placements and the results from the questionnaires were compared. These results were then combined with the results of semi-structured interviews undertaken with students.
Findings
The paper's findings support the view that a work placement has a positive impact on students’ self-efficacy, especially in relation to their confidence in making applications and/or attending interviews, and in articulating their skills and strengths.
Research limitations/implications
While the relatively small sample size means that the paper's conclusions must remain provisional, it highlights the need for careers practitioners to encourage students to engage in critical self-reflection. The paper suggests that it is important for careers practitioners and researchers to engage in more collaborative projects in order for a fully rounded picture of the relationship between placements and employability to emerge. The paper shows that more research is needed into the relative impact of short- and long-term placements.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates the value of assessing students’ views both before and after their work placements so that these views can be compared directly.
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The leadership of schools in England is increasingly complex due, in part, to the role of the politics of education in setting the agenda for schools. This agenda is becoming…
Abstract
The leadership of schools in England is increasingly complex due, in part, to the role of the politics of education in setting the agenda for schools. This agenda is becoming increasingly problematised due to the absence of clear policy accompanied by various interpretations and assemblages of ideology, promulgated by those in power. Populist agendas operate. In this apparent crisis of truth-telling, where truth as politically constituted is factual and axiomatic, school leaders in ever-increasing dark times, are having to navigate knowledge in what constitutes the truth and, in some cases, resort to ways to expose untruths through action. Using Arendtian thinking to illumine how two leaders lead schools through their labour and work in actively seeking truth enables thinking about the present issues issues of lying in politics and how school leaders must both understand this and expose lying in politics through truth-seeking. In doing so these two leaders adapt, translate and actively work not only to gain clarity but to actively seek truth where they become truth-tellers of a different truth.
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The assessment of panels is one of the most difficult aspects of exposure testing. In this paper the authors outline the methods adopted by the Ministry of Supply at their testing…
Abstract
The assessment of panels is one of the most difficult aspects of exposure testing. In this paper the authors outline the methods adopted by the Ministry of Supply at their testing station at Glascoed, in Wales. In the previous part of this article, which appeared in the June issue of CORROSION TECHNOLOGY, they described the selection and setting up of the site.
William C. Curran and Matt C. Danbrook
Child welfare services (CWSs) globally continue to absorb high rates of children living with or suspected of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Such high prevalence rates…
Abstract
Purpose
Child welfare services (CWSs) globally continue to absorb high rates of children living with or suspected of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Such high prevalence rates render CWS with major ethical and moral dilemmas of meeting complex needs. Currently, many jurisdictions are challenged by diagnostic capacity and cost implications of formal FASD diagnosis. This paper aims to recommend a screening protocol to address management gap between FASD initial presentation and formal diagnosis.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a follow-up paper from a grounded-theory study of a sample (N = 18) of child welfare social workers (CWSWs), allied health professionals and foster parents. A stepwise protocol was developed through systematical interpretation of the final data.
Findings
The application of a five-step screening protocol would greatly support CWSW in meeting the needs of children with suspected FASD. This CWSWs-led assessment model incorporates a clinical evaluation to exclude neurodevelopmental conditions caused by known genetic disorders, followed by behavioral and neurocognitive psychosocial assessments.
Research limitations/implications
This study had several limitations. Firstly, as a specific social work-based sample, it is not necessarily representative of the wider population of social workers globally due to different cultural responses to FASD in CWSs. The transferability of findings will have to be considered due to cultural variations concerning FASD.
Practical implications
By offering a management and nonlabeling approach, this five-step screening protocol offers a delineated pathway for CWSW and addresses the major professional frustrations while seeking to plan safe care for a child suspected of having FASD.
Social implications
The research offers a pragmatic low-cost to society to alleviate the mounting social and monetary implications of FASD. A large percentage of children impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure do not qualify under formal clinical diagnostic guidelines. Leaving these children without intervention is problematic. The recommendation of this study addresses this critical gap in services. The primary aim is to alleviate the burden on this cohort of vulnerable children by offering nonlabeling neurodevelopmental screening.
Originality/value
The direct implications of FASD and how it impacts CWS are well documented. However, few studies focus on the critical interface of FASD and the role of CWSW responsible for planning their safe care. This paper offers a novel pragmatic and functional multistep protocol to aid CWSW in this complex area of practice.
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A new long reach spot extract system for localised applications has been added to the range of equipment offered by Ventilation Jones. Called the PU system, it is ideal for both…
Abstract
A new long reach spot extract system for localised applications has been added to the range of equipment offered by Ventilation Jones. Called the PU system, it is ideal for both fume and dust extraction and can be used for jobs up to 9m away from the mounting point. Suggested applications include welding booths, glass reinforced polyester (G.R.P.) workshops, and metal grinding areas.
Narges Asadi, Mats Jackson and Anders Fundin
The recent shift towards accommodating flexibility in manufacturing companies and the complexity resulting from product variety highlight the significance of flexible assembly…
Abstract
Purpose
The recent shift towards accommodating flexibility in manufacturing companies and the complexity resulting from product variety highlight the significance of flexible assembly systems and designing products for them. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the requirements of a flexible assembly system for product design from the assembly system’s standpoint.
Design/methodology/approach
To fulfil the purpose of the paper, a literature review and a case study were performed. The case study was conducted with an interactive research approach in a global market leader company within the heavy vehicle manufacturing industry.
Findings
The findings indicate that common assembly sequence, similar assembly interfaces, and common parts are the main requirements of a flexible assembly system for product design which reduce complexity and facilitate various flexibility dimensions. Accordingly, a model is proposed to broaden the understanding of these requirements from the assembly system’s standpoint.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to the overlapping research area of flexible assembly systems and product design.
Practical implications
The proposed model is largely based on practical data and clarifies the role of product design in facilitating flexibility in an assembly system. It can be used by assembly managers, assembly engineers, and product designers.
Originality/value
The key originality of this paper compared to the previous studies lies in presenting a novel assembly-oriented design model. The model enhances understanding of a flexible assembly system’s requirements for product design with regard to reducing complexity and managing variation in a flexible assembly system. These requirements can be applied to product design across various product families within a company’s product portfolio.