A case study exploring the motivation and experience of members of the academy when they engage in work-based learning with employers.

This research study explores the motivation and experience of a group of
academics, based in the same large publicly funded higher education
institute (HEI) in Ireland, who are actively engaging in Work-based Learning
(WBL) curriculum development and delivery with employers and professional
bodies aimed at meeting the learning needs of the workplace.
Using case study methodology, sixteen academics together with four
functional leaders were interviewed. As participants understand the term
'industry' includes their Institute's engagement with public and private sector
employers and professional bodies, where appropriate in this research study
this term is used.
The research began before the onset of the recession in Ireland in 2008. For
HEIs the last few years have been a period of change and uncertainty.
The research finds that the academics who participated in this study are
motivated to engage in WBL curriculum development and delivery with
industry for two reasons. Firstly, they perceive it as a mode of academic
development which informs the development of institutional curricula and
their practice generally. Secondly, these academics consider engagement in
the activity as supporting the continuation of their School's tradition of
service to industry, part-time students and alumni.
The findings also suggest that while challenges and tensions may arise during
the development and delivery of WBL curricula with industry, within the
participants' Institute the voluntary, reactive, fragmented and marginal basis
of the activity inhibits the development of policies and practices which might
alleviate these challenges and tensions. Senior management within the
Institute recognise that national funding policies make it challenging for HEls
to develop activities such as WBL initiatives with industry.
The research concludes by proposing that in order to exploit the potential of
HEIs' engagement in WBL with employers, national and institutional policies
need to be developed which recognise, develop, and sustain it as a mainstream
HEI activity.