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Growing (up) at work: Industrial placements and soft skill development among business students

Zuzanna Mikrut*, David Collins

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    26 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    This paper offers an analysis of soft skill acquisition and development in the context of work placements, using a series of semi-structured interviews to offer a qualitative exploration of the placement experiences of business students. The paper chooses as its focus five key soft skills sought by graduate employers : 1) communication, 2) teamwork, 3) problem-solving, 4) time management and 5) creativity, and examines their development in the placement context. It highlights the benefits of work placements while acknowledging limitations and impediments. Recommendations for students, universities and placement employers are offered.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)169-180
    Number of pages12
    JournalJournal of Applied Learning and Teaching
    Volume8
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2025

    UN SDGs

    This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

    1. SDG 4 - Quality Education
      SDG 4 Quality Education

    Keywords

    • Business students
    • experiential learning
    • graduate employability
    • higher education
    • industrial placements
    • soft skills

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