Balancing Work & Study.

• Our project looked at online Masters provision for working professionals.

– Work-based learning.– Action Inquiry.– Reflection.– Agents for change/improvement.

• Since the project, the new government has expressed the view that more students should undertake online learning.

• The model the government has in mind is that of London University.

– It has 45,500 students studying by distance and flexible learning in 180 countries.

– Another 6,000 students in the UK do the same.

• Our study was based on our MA Creative Media Practice programme.

– Since 2004, it’s now in its fifth cohort.

– Delivered 100% online, for working media professionals.

– Based on a series of work-based action inquiry studies.

• The study aimed to find out:

– why professionals wanted to return to study;

– What the benefits are;

– how best they can be supported.

• Some findings on motivation:

– “My motivation was to increase my employment prospects”.

– “I think it was just to try and sort of better myself”.

– “[A]dd more weight to my qualifications”.

– “[W]anted to increase my knowledge”.

• Some findings on support:

– “Because it was very flexible and it fitted with me being able to continue working while studying – and to do a course that was appropriate for my practice…Because when you’re working from home and you’re studying for a Masters there’s a lot of work involved”.

– “I was able to do it remotely. I didn’t have to relocate”.

– “…my husband works away a lot. So it’s not very easy with two small children to actually be able to attend any physical classes. So, it was a very attractive prospect”.

• The benefits:

– “[G]etting a really good understanding of why your industry had formed the way it had and that was fantastic”.

– “[I]t’s opened up information or books to me or research areas I never knew existed, and I’ve loved that”.

– “[A] lot of the course is about reflecting on professional practice [and] considering places where I could make improvements”.

– “[The course] did come in easily digestible chunks, which I thought was useful. It made sense”.

• It is clear from our research that employers and employees can get a lot out of engagement with HE.

– Investing in the education of your employers will benefit your business and organisation;

– Work-based, online-learning;

– It’s a very different experience;

– Offers new insights;

– Fosters a real sense of achievement;

– Students – even freelancers – feel a Masters programme will improve their practice.

What needs to be done:

– HE needs to be better at educating employers;

– HE needs to be more flexible (online/short courses);

– We need to be more aspirational (professional doctorates);

– HE must develop a better understanding of what working professionals need;

– Employers need to recognise the long-tern benefits of investing in their employees in this way.