Professional/Short course Evidencing Work-Based Learning

Content

Many work-based learning ideas and initiatives evolve from discussions that individuals have with managers or supervisors during appraisals or team meetings. Developing or implementing these ideas in practice can then form part of a personal development plan.

You will negotiate a learning contract with the support of your manager, a mentor at work, and an identified academic at UWE Bristol. Learning is very firmly student-led and, while there will be support and guidance when needed, the learning journey is your own responsibility. This will involve the development and implementation of various actions and learning opportunities and the presentation of the evidence of learning.

What sort of learning can be used?

Almost anything. EWBL is not about the University telling you what you need to know or what skills you need to do your job. You and you manager know that much better. UWE Bristol's role in the arrangement is to provide the support and facilities you need to undertake the learning that you have identified. It could be a work project, for example:

• Creating new roles;
• Evaluating roles;
• Service improvement work;
• Audits;
• The creation of education programmes; or
• it could be learning more directed to your own development.

How is work-based learning delivered?

The short answer is flexibly, depending on the nature of your learning and your individual circumstances. However, you will need to go through a number of stages:

1. Identify the learning required in discussion with your manager.
2. Negotiate individual learning outcomes for the module, adapted from generic learning outcomes. This is what you are going to learn.
3. Negotiate a learning contract with the UWE Bristol academic and your manager. This is how you are going to learn, and can be revisited as you progress through your learning journey. As part of the contract, you will also need to agree how your learning is to be assessed, and a date for submission. This is the evidence of learning.
4. Implement the contract, renegotiating as necessary, and seeking support along the way.
5. Complete the learning and submit the agreed evidence for assessment.