The Scholarship of Engagement for Politics: A Research-Based Approach to Placement Learning

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The Scholarship of Engagement for Politics A
Research-Based Approach to Placement Learning

• Alasdair Blair
• De Montfort University
• and
• Steven Curtis
• London Metropolitan University

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The project team

• Staff from the Politics and IR departments of the
  University of Warwick, Oxford Brookes University
  and Coventry University.
• Transferability partners the Politics and IR
  departments of the University of Huddersfield,
  the University of Leeds, Keele University, and
  London Metropolitan University.

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Existing models of placement learning

• Our survey of Politics and IR departments found
• 28 out of 94 departments used placements.
• Three ideal types focused on employability
• The Brunel sandwich.
• The Westminster model (Norton).
• The work placement module.
• Lengthy duration and possible social exclusion.
• Free-floating quality often not embedded.

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Model Attributes The Brunel Sandwich The Westminster model Work placement module
Description Students take the third year out of their studies for work experience The third year of a four year legislative studies degree spent with MP in Westminster Module, usually at level 3, assessing work placement
Universities Aston, Bath, Brunel, De Montfort, Glamorgan, Kent, Leeds, Manchester Metropolitan Hull, Leeds, Salford Cork, East Anglia, Exeter, Greenwich, Huddersfield, Limerick, Liverpool John Moores, London Met, Middlesex, Queens Belfast, Sheffield Hallam, Surrey, Swansea, Westminster, West of England, Wolverhampton
Duration One year One year or one semester Varies. Usually at least one month full time, often at least ten weeks or more
Placement organised by Student Academic staff Student
Integration into course Varies. Often very low High Varies
Enhancement of employability High Very high and tailored for careers in politics Medium
Potential for adoption across HEIs Medium Low there are only 646 MPs High
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A new approach

• Short (5 to 16 days), local, during term time.
• Embedded in the curriculum (EU, British politics
  or independent study module).
• A research-based approach (Boyer)
• Researching politics in action.
• Undertaking a research project for placement
  provider.
• Placement learning, not work placements.

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What have we learned?

• Practical issues setting up placements,
  partnership agreements and assessment.
• Enriching students understanding of politics.
• Personal efficacy political education and
  employability.
• The benefits of blogs (online journaling).

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An enriched understanding of politics

• Placements illustrated class-based learning.
• Placements complemented formal learning.
• Prior learning enhanced placement activity.

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Davids enriched understanding
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Phil learns about local government
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Political education and employability

• The re-enchantment of politics
• Enriched perceptions of politicians and
  processes.
• Enhanced sense of personal efficacy (including
  out of knowledge from studies).
• Politics as a vocation
• A broader range of options.
• Finding entry points (e.g., local government).
• Relevant experience first step on ladder.

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Helen knowledge in practice
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Anna preparation for employment
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The benefits of blogging

• Promotes creativity (a self-expression
  session) flair and humour in writing for
  publication use of photos and reflection on
  politics, not personal feelings.
• Students are more likely to keep journals up to
  date, producing a better record for their essays
  and reports.
• Facilitates remote monitoring of placements.
• Enables student interaction.

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Andy blogging as a release
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Remote monitoring of placements

• Blogs permit rapid identification of problems
  with placements and immediate intervention.
• Remote monitoring enhances students sense of
  ownership of their placements, along with
  feelings of autonomy and responsibility.
• We were able to insert comments into the
  students blogs, spurring deeper reflection.

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Calls for intervention

• Like the previous time he said he would look into
  arranging a monday at the placement providers
  office in London however as yet he hasn't done
  sic contacted the people involved.
• (excerpt from Stuarts blog)
• i made a firend today, there are lots of ppl here
  doing short placements and im goin to go sight
  seeing with her on friday as i ahve the day off!
• (excerpt from Shelleys blog)

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Lucie and Natasa on autonomy
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Spurring deeper reflection

• Among our interventions in blogs, we asked
  students to reflect on and research
• The value of traditional political procedures.
• Institutional resistance to new technology.
• The extent to which constituents letters are in
  response to parliamentary debates.
• Whether written questions from one MP to another
  are about making political points or acquiring
  information.

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Publications to date

• S. Curtis and A. Blair (eds.), The Scholarship of
  Engagement for Politics Placement Learning,
  Citizenship and Employability (Birmingham C-SAP,
  2009).
• S. Curtis et al., Placement Blogging The
  Benefits and Limitations of Online Journaling,
  ELiSS Enhancing Learning in the Social Sciences,
  Vol. 1, No. 3, 2009.
• S. Curtis et al., Making Short Politics
  Placements Work, Politics, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2009.
• P. Sherrington et al., Research-Led Placements
  in Politics A New Approach? European Political
  Science, Vol. 7, No. 2, 2008.