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Article
Publication date: 16 January 2019

Ruben Toledano-O’Farrill

The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology and results of practice-based learning in the Business School of a higher education institution (HEI) in Mexico, with a…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology and results of practice-based learning in the Business School of a higher education institution (HEI) in Mexico, with a focus on students’ participation and learning experience.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is a descriptive and qualitative analysis of six team experiences within a larger project developed through university–business partnership with the aim of helping develop organizational capabilities of small and medium enterprises within the Tequila industry in Mexico.

Findings

Participation of students in project-based learning, in genuine scenarios alongside professional consultants, is an effective way to develop learning and to apply prior knowledge. Learning occurs at several levels, including developing professional knowledge, teamwork, leadership and communication skills, and to some extent consulting skills. Client organizations also develop learning in work-based learning (WBL) projects.

Research limitations/implications

The research methodology does not allow for generalization of the results on a large scale.

Practical implications

This research shows a successful instance of project- and practice-based learning that may be helpful for HEIs seeking to implement this learning methodology.

Social implications

There is research evidence that more students are expecting to get practice-based skills as part of their higher education training. This paper supports the argument that HEIs can develop wide scale WBL programs that have impact on students’ learning and skills development as well as on the development of host organizations.

Originality/value

The instance of WBL described in this research paper is unique within HEIs in Mexico.

Details

Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-3896

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 February 2017

Ruben Toledano-O’Farrill

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the experience in a Mexican private higher education institution of implementing credit-bearing student placements and projects…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the experience in a Mexican private higher education institution of implementing credit-bearing student placements and projects (interventions) in organizations, as a mandatory part of the curriculum for all undergraduates. The university-wide program, called professional application projects (PAPs) has been running for ten years and has two main aims: to develop work-based professional skills in students and to deliver services to organizations and communities of diverse types. All undergraduate students get involved in PAP when they have completed 70 percent of the required program credits. This amounts to approximately 2,000 students per year. The paper reports the results of an investigation into the learning outcomes of PAPs in the Business School, which comprises six undergraduate programs, a center for liaisons with businesses, and a center for management of technology and innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative analysis of students’ final reports of their PAP experience, from the period 2015-2016 was done.

Findings

The report analyses and clusters the main categories of learning outcomes reported by students. The analysis shows that the PAP experience has been mostly successful in terms of student learning.

Originality/value

There has been scarce reporting of the results of PAP at the reported institution, or of other similar experiences of work-based learning in Mexico on this scale.

Details

Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, vol. 7 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-3896

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 September 2010

Rubén Toledano O'Farrill

The purpose of this paper is to explore theoretically and empirically the concept of workplace information literacy (IL) and its connections to knowledge management (KM), and to…

2733

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore theoretically and empirically the concept of workplace information literacy (IL) and its connections to knowledge management (KM), and to examine the applicability of the mainstream institutional IL frameworks (American Library Association, The Australian and New Zealand Institute for IL, The Society of College, National and University Libraries, The UK Chartered Institute of Library Professionals, etc.) to the workplace environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Phenomenographic study of conceptions of effective information use of frontline staff at NHS24, which are discussed with respect to organizational characteristics of NHS Scotland and against the background of the two theoretical concepts: KM and IL.

Findings

The paper shows that the main institutional IL frameworks do not properly reflect some important ways in which information is used by participants in the study, particularly the use of people as information sources and the social sense making and interpretation of the value of information and its application in the workplace environment.

Research limitations/implications

The results from this qualitative study of a small population can be useful inasmuch as they highlight characteristics of workplace IL that may be relevant in several organizational settings, as well as presenting a critical analysis of the IL frameworks developed by librarians in regard to their applicability to workplace settings.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the importance of developing organization‐specific guidelines for IL development, endorsing views of learning and information use grounded in socio‐constructive perspectives and a consideration of context as situated practice.

Originality/value

This is an original research study conducted as part of a PhD qualification which has contributed to further the understanding of workplace IL.

Details

Journal of Documentation, vol. 66 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0022-0418

Keywords

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