When a young person starts off in a job, they are not aware of the potential prospects available to them and what different roles are like to experience. This approach is designed to expose young people to the range of job roles within an organisation of their choice.

In a company in Herefordshire, England, Apprentices get the opportunity to experience a range of job roles through a rotational approach to the departments within the company. This involves work experience periods in different sections of the company. Typically a student may spend between 3-6 months in a department where they get to know what is required, shadow colleagues and contribute to the workflow.

Preparation

VET Provider
Selection of the right candidate is paramount. The successful apprentice will spend 6 weeks shadowing and learning about specific roles. The VET Provider should provide as much information as possible and liaise with the employer to confirm the arrangements.

Employer
This has to be organised very carefully and the apprentice will join teams where there is work to be completed but allow the apprentice to experience a range of activities within the company. It must be arranged with key staff who help to coach and mentor apprentices.

Students
Students have to be prepared to go into a range of departments and experience all activities presented. Whilst it may be seen as shadowing, the apprentice must add value to the company and contribute to business operations.

Implementation

VET Provider
The Vet Provider will need to keep regular contact with the employer and student to ensure the schedule is working and gaining positive feedback.

Employer
It is important that all relevant staff know what is expected of the student whilst they are in a particular department. Work should be organised to provide a full breadth of the company and a range of activities representative of the job role in each area.

Students
Students get the opportunity to experience a wide range of skills and are evaluated along the way to gather feedback. At the end of each rotation, the student gets feedback and also provides their thoughts on the job role and how they like the work.

After the event

VET Provider
The VET Provider should liaise with employer and student to gain feedback on the process, what went well and what could be improved for future apprentices.

Employer
Employers should provide constructive feedback on the student and also the process to ensure improvements can be made.

Students
The rotation is evaluated and the student has a wider exposure to identify future career prospects as and when places become available.

Recommendations

This approach is not for everyone – employers and students. It requires a significant amount of planning and preparation. All departments have to buy in to the process and be prepared to support and mentor the student when in their area of work.

It should be recognised that to get the most out of the placement, an apprentice should be seen as an additional member of the team not necessarily a key role otherwise they cannot rotate after their stay in that department.

The Netherlands is strongly focused on innovation and technological development. From here, not only new technics arise, but also new disciplines, professions and functions arise. A factory is located in Harderwijk that robotizes logistics processes. They build robots for, among other things, the automotive industry and warehousing systems. In the development, production and operation of robots, various disciplines come together such as mechatronics and IT, supplemented with very specific knowledge and skills. A whole new field has emerged with robotization.

From this issue, among other things, the Technology-Pact arose. Companies and educational institutes work together on the development of new programs.

Preparation

VET Provider
The VET provider must be open to the input of the employer. After all, he is the expert on these future professions. Together with the employer, the VET provider looks at which basic components of existing training courses should be used and which additional modules are necessary and need to be developed. In addition, an accreditation is required to realize an officially recognized program. The VET provider has the knowledge and skills for this.

Employer

The employer provides input from the necessary professional knowledge from practice. What are important developments and skills that should be reflected in the training? What levels of education are needed for practice? In the robotization training, 4 levels are defined:  Robotic coordinator, Robotic Technician, Robotic engineer, Robotics system engineer. Ranging from MBO level 4 to MSc.

Students
Within the field of robotization, work is often project-based and in teams. Students must be well prepared for this and be able to function independently within self-managing teams.

Implementation

VET Provider
It is important to maintain good and regular contact with the employer. To fine-tune theory and practical programs as well as possible and, where possible, to allow them to take place within the company. The school ensures good individual guidance of the student.

Employer
The employer has set up a field-lab in which various test setups are realized. These are used for the development of new techniques and applications. The field-lab also offers space for students to carry out projects. In doing so, they receive support from the specialists who work within the company.

Students
Working project-based in teams inside and outside school and company.

After the event

VET Provider
Stay in touch with the employer and evaluate the results. Continues to align the programme with new technological developments and insights. 

Employer
Stay in touch with the trainers and evaluate the results. Continues to inform the VET-provider about new technological developments and insights. 

Students
Students are trained for future professions. Professions that will continue to develop strongly.  It is therefore important that students are prepared for a learning attitude, even after their diploma.

Recommendations

As branches, also contact schools and work together on new training curricula for future professions.