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The purpose of this paper is to explore the aims, objectives and approach to change adopted by the e3i CETL for Employability at Sheffield Hallam University and illustrates the impact of change via three thematic case studies and an organising framework for understanding the locus of change with respect to work‐related learning: module curriculum and pedagogy (micro level), Faculty and Departmental strategies and operations, course design, structure and delivery (meso level), and institutional policies and processes (the macro level). These experiences are distilled to formulate recommendations for a modus operandi for those interested or involved with transforming higher education institutions (HEIs) to create a greater emphasis on and enhanced opportunities for students to engage with work‐related learning.

A case studies approach is utilised to illustrate the work of the CETL in practice and generate insights.

Findings suggest that HEIs can successfully embrace the WRL agenda and make a significant contribution to achieving its aims and objectives. Central to this success is encouraging institutions to absorb WRL into their mission in an overt manner, providing guidance, support, encouragement, inspiration, resources and reward to colleagues involved in creating and facilitating WRL, and adopting a modus operandi with regards to change that resonates with institutional academic culture.

The paper suggests an approach to strategic and transformative change in HEIs that will be of interest to change agents across the sector.

The paper adds insights to the expanding literature on managing large‐scale change initiatives in HEIs.

Although BTEC has considerably refined its approach to the development and embedding of common skills (core skills) within its Higher National Programmes in recent years, argues that there are still a number of problems associated with the practical operation of this strategy and obstacles to a deeper acceptance of the common skills pedagogy within a higher education context remain. From a survey of students who completed a Higher National Diploma at Sheffield Business School in 1993 the crucial issues in this respect were seen to be the complexity of the common skills strategy, difficulties in the area of assessment, the value placed on subject knowledge by students, the lack of an acceptance of a common skills profile when applying for jobs, interviews, and further study, the fact that students thought some skills to be more important than others, and the fact that the development of skills was not undertaken with sufficient reference to probable future contexts where they could be utilized.

Examines the nature of commissioned projects in business education and the value they hold for key stakeholder groups: students, tutors and clients. Identifies the essence of commissioned projects as being a unique fusion of vocational and pedagogic (problem‐based learning) perspectives. Describes the structure of commissioned projects and argues that this is a necessary but not sufficient condition for their success. Argues that the key to their successful utilisation is the establishment of effective foundations. Identifies these as a strategy for curriculum support; a commitment to the integration of skills and knowledge; a negotiated approach to the specification of learning outcomes; a recognition of the importance of process issues; the development of a framework for applying learning; and an emphasis on the concept of reflective practice.

Draws on relevant academic literature to explore the nature of cross‐cultural capability and goes on to consider its implications for the student experience in British undergraduate business education. Some of the key issues concerning the design of mechanisms and strategies for integrating cross‐cultural capability within the curriculum are highlighted and discussed with a view to informing what needs to be done to prepare undergraduates for the international business world of tomorrow

Ping pong overtures sent a flurry of excited optimism through the export departments of British industry, and companies eager to capture a chunk of Chairman Mao's untapped trade market are asking about the sales prospects of everything from machine tools to hot pants. Chris Phillips looks at UK export potential in the face of growing competition from Europe and the US.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of eco-labels to help dairy farm viability as one partial solution to a complex problem. Specifically, it aims to understand which attributes are most likely to increase consumption and garner price premiums.

This paper uses key informant interviews and a convenience sample (n=203) of supermarket shoppers in Vermont. It uses Likert-type scales to measure the likelihood of increased purchase and paying price premiums based on a series attributes including animal welfare, fair labor standards, family farms and environmental stewardship. It calculates and compares mean ratings of each attribute and use an ordinal regression to measure the effect of demographic attributes on each attribute’s rating.

Interviewed stakeholders named low milk prices and evolving industry structure as harming dairy farm viability. They list supply control and improved promotion as potential solutions. Survey respondents say attributes supporting animal welfare, farm workers, family farms and healthy soil are most likely to garner increased consumption and price premiums.

The authors use a convenience sample, so generalization to larger populations is not advisable.

Promotion around animal welfare, farm workers, family farms and healthy soil is most likely to be effective, based on the results of this study. The survey responses are very highly correlated, suggesting that a multi-attribute eco-label may garner the most support.

This work can inform efforts to promote dairy farm viability, an important sector of the agricultural economy in Vermont and elsewhere in the USA.

This research provides the ranking of attributes which may appear on eco-labels by current consumers of dairy products in a state with an important dairy heritage and industry.