Publisher's Synopsis
Work-based learning is situated within the context of the paradigm shift from an 'industrial society' to a 'knowledge society'. The work-based learning model of human resource development has captured a great deal of attention and has gained increasing importance in higher education in recent years. Work-based learning is a powerful phenomenon that attempts to help policy-makers, managers and curriculum developers improve the quality of the decision and organizational behavior. Work-based learning is playing an increasingly important part in the development of lifelong learning and affording company employees worldwide in all fields of work the opportunity to begin, update, or improve their higher education qualification by obtaining credits for negotiated learning completed flexibly in the workplace. It is also increasingly advocated in policy literature as an important form of provision which will establish new relationships between higher education and the world of work. This can be seen as part of a wider set of changes in the economy, society and the role of higher education. This volume brings together research and reviews in the context of work-based learning, which examines practices, providers and supporting and hindering factors related to guidance and learning at the workplace. This volume takes a practical approach to providing information on learning theories and application and how we measure learning and skills. This volume illustrates that the examination of the work-based learning model offers the possibility for decision-makers and curriculum developers to integrate work and learning at the workplace and help each other develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes required for changing workplaces. Recent approaches to human resource development have centered more in workplace. They involve the workforce more directly in decision-making process, change management, informal learning in the workplace which shapes their productivity approaches. The work-based learning helps decision-makers to reconceptualize the ways of improving both their professional effectiveness in their work and the relationships with their colleagues through workplace efforts and related activities. This volume serves as valuable reference for employees, employers, educationalists, policy makers and researchers.
