Considering Workplace Exposure

1
Considering Workplace Exposure

• Initial findings from the Construction CIP

2
Workplace Rationale for offering Students
Opportunities for Workplace Exposure

• There was a very high level of buy-in from Senior
  Management who requested that their workplaces
  participate in the programme
• Some of the workplaces indicated that they hoped
  that through their involvement in the programme
  they would be able to find potential employees
• Some workplaces had specific roles in mind which
  they believed that the students would be able to
  assist with.

3
Activities that were undertaken by students at
the Workplace

• Induction All companies provided Site Safety
  Health and Environmental Issues and in some cases
  companies also included an orientation to civil
  engineering in other cases an introduction to
  the specific procedures of the company
• Some companies provided practical training in
  areas such as Formwork scaffolding,
  Bricklaying, Reading Interpreting of drawings,
  Setting out Buildings, Using spirit levels,
  Erecting Dismantling of scaffolding, Concrete
  wall construction, Plastering, Concrete Mixing
  Carpentry.
• Some companies involved students in practical
  work assisting a shutter-hand cutting concrete
  with the team leader, using the concrete
  vibrator, performing levelling, lining of pipes
  repairing doors shutter boards, doing repair
  work on ceilings, quality assurance related
  activities working alongside the foremen doing
  this and that they were happy with that.

4
Workplace Perception of the Learners

• A few companies stated that they had requested
  students with particular skills and indicated
  that were comfortable that the students that they
  received had the skills that they had asked for
  (good match)
• Many supervisors said that the learners had the
  appropriate attitudes and many commented that the
  students were willing to work as a team
• Supervisors observed that those students that had
  previous work experience were much more prepared
  for the workplace than they had been in the
  previous year
• While many supervisors said learners had
  theoretical knowledge but insufficient practical
  skills, they indicated that this was dealt with
  in terms of supervision arrangements (that is
  students could undertake practical work if shown
  what to do and if properly supervised)

5
Workplaces perceptions of the effect of the
workplace exposure on Learners

• Some students emerged with certificates where
  they had participated in practical training
• Supervisors stated that the students learned a
  lot about how to conduct themselves at the
  workplace, comments included
• They learned supervision skills and an ability
  to carry out a task without someone on your back.
  They also learned how to work in a team and
  blended well with the other workers.
• The students get the skills and quality
  training in areas that the theory does not
  cover.
• They get skills and experience on site
  especially practical technical skills as well as
  working in a team.

6
Workplace perceptions on the Relationship between
themselves and the colleges

• Many workplaces were not aware that there was a
  provider or that students were undertaking the
  NCV (they only knew that they were students)
• Workplaces were not clear as to what they could
  expect of the learners or what was expected of
  them during the workplace exposure
• Workplaces primarily related to their head
  offices in terms of the logistics of the
  workplace exposure (though a few had FET
  lecturers who were also placed with them but this
  appears to have been treated as a separate
  programmes)

7
Workplace Perception on Future Involvement in the
Programme

• Workplaces were generally positive about future
  involvement in the programme
• They suggested though that the programme could be
  improved if they had more information and
  guidance
• Critically a number of the companies suggested
  that they would be willing to either offer
  apprenticeships to students or even to consider
  the employment of some of the students (and a
  number of supervisors stated that they have
  already identified students for future options)