Work-Based Learning   Characteristics   Benefits   DMU's Vision

Work-Based Learning

Work-Based Learning utilizes workplace skills and abilities of employees and these are later translated as awards – these can be also used for tertiary awards.

Work-Based Learning is an element in education that provides students with opportunities to build career awareness explore career options and further develop innovative and critical-thinking skills. Work-Based Learning describes any learning which is the outcome of skills gained and developed through experience in the worksite or on the job. It is seen as a method which supports the personal and professional development of students who are already at work and the focus of the learning and development must be on the student’s workplace activities and job functions
In effect, from an employers’ perspective, we are talking about workforce (or professional) development - the upskilling and reskilling of an organisation’s employees’ work or performance level.

Characteristics of Work-Based Learning:

• Task-related as learning arises from the performance of research and experiments in the workplace and tackling workplace problems or issues from time to time

• Innovative as new techniques and approaches are devised to meet new situations or in the improvement of the existing methods or techniques at the workplace

• Autonomously-managed and self-regulated since learning takes place without direct instruction; students to take responsibility for their own learning and reporting and develop new skills and thereby upgrade their work performance and knowledge levels.

The benefits of Work-Based Learning:

a) For the Students

• Better workplace performance
• Realize relevance of education and apply knowledge in a meaningful way
• Explore career options and adapt to better job/occupation environment
• Increased self-confidence
• Acquire real workplace experience and work skills
• Expand educational opportunities for further personal development
• Improved motivation resulting in better work results

b) For the Employers:

Better-prepared employees who understand workplace expectations and issues
Reduced recruitment and training costs
Derived value from student's work
Improved morale and management skills of current workers

Successfully implemented work-based learning programs can benefit the local community by:
• Providing an informed, competently skilled and productive workforce
• Ensuring cooperation and understanding between education, business/industry, and the community – develops a bridge between learning and the workplace.
• Enhancing awareness of local employment opportunities.
• Building the foundation for a more productive local economy
• Improving foreign investment opportunities

Research suggests that over 70% of learning comes from experiences, either planned or unplanned, thus emphasizing the need to ‘learn from real work’. Such learning is also seen as a means by which the economy can respond more rapidly to changing skill needs, when compared to ‘campus-based learning’. In work-based learning observations plays an important role

Dublin Metropolitan University’s vision in Work-Based Learning

“You can learn anywhere and everywhere and we will assist you in achieving your goals in your career development.”