The pitfalls of work placement learning: perceptions of mechanical engineering students from a South African university

Abstract

This article reports on a qualitative multi-case study exploring the challenges mechanical engineering students experience during work placement. The study collected data from 34 purposively selected mechanical engineering students. It found that constraining learning environments, ineffective industry mentors, low quality work affordances and negative student characteristics can compromise students’ work placement learning outcomes. It suggests that the coupling of ineffective mentors and constraining learning environments tends to be associated with low quality work affordances. Industry mentors were considered ineffective if they could not perform the dual role of work supervisors and teachers. It further suggests that some student attributes can also compromise work placement learning outcomes. It found that students who are not proactive or assertive often experience low quality work affordances. To remedy these shortcomings, universities should provide pre-placement training for students and industry mentors in the form of a seminar for industry mentors and simulated work placement for students. ©, Engineers Australia.

Keywords

Author Keywords

work placement learning Student Experiences constraining learning environment industry mentor work affordances

Index Keywords

Teaching Engineering education Personnel training Students Computer aided instruction Learning environments Mechanical engineering students Work placement Student experiences Affordances Constraining learning environment Industry mentor Low qualities Work affordance Work placement learning

Author Affiliations

Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, South Africa

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Funding & Acknowledgements

No funding information

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The pitfalls of work placement learning: perceptions of mechanical engineering students from a South African university

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