Managing risks in work-integrated learning programmes: a cross-institutional collaboration
Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning
ISSN: 2042-3896
Article publication date: 11 December 2019
Issue publication date: 16 April 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Work-integrated learning (WIL) poses legal, reputation, operational, strategic and financial risks for higher education providers (HEPs). The purpose of this paper is to explore how HEPs can manage five significant WIL risks involving intellectual property, student disability and medical conditions, the host organisation and the legal literacy of WIL practitioners.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is a cross-institutional collaboration of WIL practitioners who explored risk management in WIL programmes. The case study is presented as a cross-case analysis to assist WIL stakeholders with evaluating their risk management frameworks. A description about the significance of the risk (in terms of causes and consequences), as well as practices to manage the risk, is presented under each of the five WIL risks.
Findings
WIL practitioners described a series of risk management practices in response to five significant risks in WIL programmes. Four themes underpinning these risk management practices – balance, collaboration, relationship management and resources – are conceptualised as characteristics that can serve as guiding principles for WIL stakeholders in risk management.
Practical implications
The findings can be applied by WIL stakeholders to evaluate and improve existing risk management frameworks, and to improve their legal literacy in relation to WIL. The study also demonstrates the capacity for collaborative research to address practice issues in WIL.
Originality/value
This is the first known study which employs a cross-institutional collaboration of WIL practitioners to contribute towards the body of knowledge examining risk management in WIL programmes.
Keywords
Citation
Cameron, C., Ashwell, J., Connor, M., Duncan, M., Mackay, W. and Naqvi, J. (2020), "Managing risks in work-integrated learning programmes: a cross-institutional collaboration", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 325-338. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-05-2019-0072
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited