A work placement can provide students with industry knowledge, contacts and greater confidence, as well as helping to enhance their future employability. But some students may face challenges in finding placements and making the most of them.
ECU commissioned research to understand what barriers faced some students in gaining work placements. This research found that disabled students, black and minority ethnic students, those with caring responsibilities and students from disadvantaged backgrounds face significant barriers.
Staff toolkit
This toolkit has been designed to enable staff in higher education institutions to better support all students in accessing and completing work placements in the arts and cultural sector.
It provides tools for staff to reflect on their current practice and facilitate discussions about what equality issues exist and how these may be addressed.
Student toolkit
Designed to be circulated to students at the beginning of their course, or when they are preparing for work placements, this toolkit presents factors for students to consider and useful links to ensure that they find and complete a successful placement.
The toolkit also includes a poster featuring quotes from the students involved in the research programme outlining some of the issues they encountered on work placements.