CAN “VIRTUAL” EVER BE “REAL” WORK EXPERIENCE? THE TRIED, THE CONSTANTS, THE FUTURE

OVERVIEW

 
 

HOW WORK EXPERIENCE (SCHOOL WEEKS TO APPRENTICESHIPS) COULD EMERGE FROM COVID ENRICHED AND STRONGER THAN EVER

The COVID pandemic has had a serious impact on work-based learning, e.g placements ranging from school work experience to apprenticeships. In the majority of sectors, the activity has come to a standstill. Unsurprisingly, this has accelerated the advent of virtual work experience, and with that comes the increasingly heated debate: “Can ‘virtual’ ever be real Work Experience?”

The pause in activity has given organisations the chance to reflect on why and how to deliver Work Experience (of any type), which has to be to everyone’s benefit, how to ensure that QUALITY is achieved and to what extent virtual/online has a role to play in their activities.

It is Rod’s view that these tempestuous COVID 8 months (and counting) will have a significant and lasting effect on Work Experience – and for the better.

Objectives

The aims/objectives/expected outcomes for the audience are:

  • To encourage employers of all types and sizes in all sectors to ensure that they are ready to offer, as soon as it becomes possible, HIGH QUALITY placements - and to help equip them to do so effectively, cost efficiently and to the benefit of all parties by providing strategies and structures and dispelling myths and concerns.
  • To facilitate organisations already active in this field, but have paused or reduced because of COVID, in evaluating their approach and operations, and amending if necessary, to achieve increased ROI and greater benefits for learners when activity picks up again.
  • To provoke audience members’ thoughts on the current debate about the role of virtual and online in Work Experience activities and how this might impact them and their future activities.

Target Audience

 
 

Employers, Learning/Training Providers, Facilitators.

Intro and Intermediate level, although the debate on “virtual” is relevant to all.