Qualifying social work education is recognised as playing a critical role in equipping practitioners with the skills and interest to develop a 'research minded' approach to practice, yet in the UK context, the profession continues to grapple with questions about how to support practitioners to sustain and develop these skills post-qualification.…

Globalization has been a motivating factor for institutions of higher education to reassess their mission statements and consider to how best prepare students for an increasingly globalized world (Green et al., 2008). As a result, universities are developing programs and initiatives to assist in this effort including on and off campus…

This paper describes and analyses the role of peer mentoring in a pilot internship programme that took place in summer 2023. A team of five international MA student-interns participated in a summer pre-sessional programme, acting as communication partners and facilitators. The aim of the study was to investigate the benefits of being peer mentors…

Whilst existing research has explored the impact of a peer support role on the holistic development of mentees and mentors, very little is known about the experiences of those students who work in partnership alongside academic and service colleagues in co-creating, implementing, and delivering these programs. In this exploratory case study, the…

Capstone experiences (CEs) serve a variety of purposes in higher education as opportunities to apply academic skills, explore post-graduate life and employment, and achieve a meaningful undergraduate event. This study investigated the purposes of CEs through a content analysis of institutional course syllabi/course outlines/module outlines and…

Resilience is a multifaceted concept but, in the context of learning, it can best be thought of as an individual's capacity to create and maximise opportunities as well as responding positively to setbacks and challenges. Developing students' resilience is becoming increasingly important. Research has shown resilience links to attainment,…

Employers often complain that students leave school unequipped with the real-world skills needed, including problem-solving, teamwork and effective communication. Conversely, school-based education often suffers from limited perceived authenticity leading to low student engagement. Work experience is one solution, but it is labour-intensive and…

Internships have become an important means to enhance career prospects in an increasingly congested graduate labour market. This article used positional conflict theory to explore how university students from different social class backgrounds experience internships, and the implications for inequalities in post-graduation employment. One-hundred…

This thought piece attempts to explore the link between graduate employment and students' social capital within the context of UK higher education. It addresses the importance of social capital and the problems faced by graduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds when applying to graduate roles. It takes a practical approach by looking at…

Internships are now widely promoted as a valuable means of enhancing graduate employability. However, little is known about student perceptions of internships. Drawing on data from a pre-1992 university, two types of graduate are identified: engagers and disengagers. The engagers valued internship opportunities while the disengagers perceived…

This article presents a qualitative case study of U.S. social studies pre-service teachers (PSTs) interning in England. We explore how these experiences influence their teaching and their orientation towards culture and cultural difference, and how the structure of education abroad programs are designed to support growth in cultural competence and…

Internships are the new rung on the professional ladder. For the most sought after professions especially, they are increasingly seen as a requirement before a young person is offered their first job. However, too often internships are unpaid and not openly advertised. For young people who cannot afford to work for free, and for those who do not…

Attracting international students has become a strategic priority for UK immigration policy as well as for British universities. However, research shows that there are emergent intercultural barriers that challenge international students' carrier aspirations and inhibit their ability to find employment. Also, small business employers (SMEs) are…

This article explores the concept and measurement of placement value, underexplored in theory and practice to date. The article makes a theoretical contribution to the placement value discourse by examining and articulating the placement value concept. It also offers a practical contribution by exploring a piloted tool to evaluate employer…

Despite decades of efforts to promote social mobility, studying for higher education maintains or even exacerbates social inequalities. Interventions, including employability classes and careers advice and guidance, have not succeeded in 'levelling the playing field' for students. To understand why inequalities persist despite these efforts, it is…