TY - GEN
T1 - The perspectives of new student enrollees regarding the vacation work program
AU - Gqibani, Samuel Loyiso
AU - Maile, Albert
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 IEEE.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - In South Africa, Universities of Technology and some Comprehensive Universities used to offer a three-year diploma, which was two years of theory and a year of Work Integrated Learning. Recently, a three-year degree was introduced that did not have the Work Integrated Learning component. Work Integrated Learning is defined as a form of workplace experience that incorporates both the formal and practical aspects of education within a structured work environment. The absence of Work Integrated Learning in the curriculum for the degree has created a gap because graduates were no more exposed to Industry. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology facilitated negotiations with industry for students to spend time in the workplace during vacation. Vacation work is a program aimed at equipping students with some industry-relevant practical skills via exposure to the work environment. As a result of the intervention, a group of five students were placed in one of the Mining Companies for vacation work. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspectives of these students regarding the vacation work program. Using qualitative research methods, the participants were asked to share their perspectives. Data shows that vacation work is ideal for the integration of classroom theory with practical work. It can also be concluded that the perspectives of students regarding the vacation work, has an impact on how they adapt to the workplace, and therefore their performance and ability to acquire useful skills during their placement.
AB - In South Africa, Universities of Technology and some Comprehensive Universities used to offer a three-year diploma, which was two years of theory and a year of Work Integrated Learning. Recently, a three-year degree was introduced that did not have the Work Integrated Learning component. Work Integrated Learning is defined as a form of workplace experience that incorporates both the formal and practical aspects of education within a structured work environment. The absence of Work Integrated Learning in the curriculum for the degree has created a gap because graduates were no more exposed to Industry. The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology facilitated negotiations with industry for students to spend time in the workplace during vacation. Vacation work is a program aimed at equipping students with some industry-relevant practical skills via exposure to the work environment. As a result of the intervention, a group of five students were placed in one of the Mining Companies for vacation work. The aim of this study is to investigate the perspectives of these students regarding the vacation work program. Using qualitative research methods, the participants were asked to share their perspectives. Data shows that vacation work is ideal for the integration of classroom theory with practical work. It can also be concluded that the perspectives of students regarding the vacation work, has an impact on how they adapt to the workplace, and therefore their performance and ability to acquire useful skills during their placement.
KW - Bachelor of Engineering Technology
KW - Institutions of Higher Learning
KW - internship
KW - vacation work
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85146675385&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/WEEF-GEDC54384.2022.9996229
DO - 10.1109/WEEF-GEDC54384.2022.9996229
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85146675385
T3 - 2022 IEEE IFEES World Engineering Education Forum - Global Engineering Deans Council, WEEF-GEDC 2022 - Conference Proceedings
BT - 2022 IEEE IFEES World Engineering Education Forum - Global Engineering Deans Council, WEEF-GEDC 2022 - Conference Proceedings
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 2022 IEEE IFEES World Engineering Education Forum - Global Engineering Deans Council, WEEF-GEDC 2022
Y2 - 27 November 2022 through 1 December 2022
ER -