Professional Practice or Work Based Learning Studies; BA/BSc (Hons), or FdA/FdSc/, or UniCert/UniDip/Higher Diploma/GradCert /AdDip/GradDip

At a glance UCAS code:

Mode of learning:
Distance/blended
Course leader:
Dr. Abdulai Abukari
Admissions:
Gifty Ohemeng
Course length:
Flexible
Course starts:
February 2012 and October 2012

Overview & facilities

Professional Practice and Work Based Learning Studies programmes are especially designed for those that want to develop their expertise within their current work. Your work will become the subject of your studies to enable you to work more effectively as a professional practitioner in your field. If you are self-employed or work in an organisation, paid or unpaid and in any employment sector, these work-based programmes enable you to gain qualifications through your work.

Making use of Middlesex’s innovative work-based approach to learning your course of study will enable you to enhance your effectiveness in your current work role whilst simultaneously working towards your qualification.  Middlesex work based learning courses are used by leading employers in the UK and internationally as they combine individual development with organisational and professional learning. Our programmes in professional practice enable you to build upon existing higher education level study and professional qualifications to further your development and make an impact in your professional area. Our programmes in work based learning studies take as the starting point your learning from experience and can be used to provide highly original and customised qualifications. The level of customisation is even reflected in the title of the qualification, e.g. BA (Hons) Work Based Learning Studies (Leadership and Knowledge Management) or BA (Hons) Work Based Learning Studies (Driver Education).

Our expertise is in supporting you to make the most of your potential in a rapidly changing and highly competitive knowledge driven economy. Professionals across a wide span of areas such as administration, construction, education, financial services, health, maritime, policing, retail, transport have already successfully used Middlesex work based learning. Take charge of your learning and career development by making Middlesex Work Based Learning work for you!

Depending upon your previous experience and learning, your programme of study can be constructed to lead to a BA/BSc(Hons) or Foundation Degree qualification. Individual programmes can also be constructed to lead to a comprehensive range of other qualifications including University Certificates and Diplomas that can be completed in less than a year. They include the following:

  • University Certificate – 40 credits at level 4
  • Certificate of Higher Education – 120 credits at level 4
  • University Diploma – 40 credits at level 5
  • Higher Diploma – 120 credits at level 5
  • Graduate Certificate/Advanced Diploma – 60 credits at level 6
  • Graduate Diploma – 120 credits at level 6

Professional Practice and Work Based Learning Studies Programmes are primarily supported through our on-line virtual learning environment, which means that you can gain your degree (or other qualification) without having to find significant additional time to attend the University in person. However, there will be on-campus group based induction and workshop sessions available for all students to support your studies. In addition, on-line induction and workshops sessions will be held for those who cannot attend in person.

Benefits:

  • Enhance potential for career progression
  • Develop transferable work-based analytical and research skills 
  • Develop expertise within your chosen field
  • Gain academic recognition for existing skills 
  • Improve professional effectiveness  Use your existing work as the subject of your study
  • Flexible study that builds on your current work and/or professional practice

Location & map

Address: Middlesex University, Hendon campus, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT UK

To find out how to get to the campus see travel directions to Hendon campus. The nearest tube station is Hendon Central on the Northern line.

Content & modules

The course is designed to meet your professional development needs and those of your organisation. Professional Practice and Work Based Learning Studies programmes can include four kinds of modules: Review of Learning; Professional Practice, Practitioner Inquiry; Negotiated Work Based Learning Projects. Typically BA/BSc(Hons) and FdA/FdSc programmes are constructed to include a combination of these modules.

Review of Learning
Review of Learning is a distinctive feature of Work Based Learning and supports a dynamic process of identifying, analysing and reflecting on your learning to date to develop and present a portfolio that demonstrates your prior learning. This portfolio can be assessed for academic credit that can then be recognised as part of your study programme, consequently reducing the overall length of time and number of modules you are required to complete. In addition, this process will enable you to recognise and evaluate your existing work-based knowledge and skills as a platform for further professional development.

Professional Development
Professional Development modules are designed to both introduce and develop the knowledge and skills required to engage in the negotiated work-based learning process. They are also designed to enable you to develop a professional development plan and programme agreement. This will define the focus of your studies including your proposed work-based projects and will be agreed in negotiation with your employer (or other relevant party) and the University. These modules will also inform your plans for post programme professional development and career enhancement.

Practitioner Inquiry
These modules are designed to enable you to learn about, and experiment with, methods of inquiry to inform your own work or professional practice. Module activities will enable you to gain inquiry-related skills including critical analysis, evaluation and appraisal. These skills help you to select, develop and apply appropriate methods of work-based inquiry to your work-based projects. This could include: 

  • Analysis of the context in which a project is being undertaken including your role and position as worker/researcher and the ethical implications that arise from this
  • Devising and applying real-time work-based activity development processes
  • Critical appraisal of research/professional literature, organizational or national policy, professional standards or directives
  • Appropriate inquiry methodologies and approaches to data in relation to the specific contexts of your work/practice 
  • Engagement with professional practice networks to inform the development and application of inquiry methods

Negotiated Work Based Learning Projects
Negotiated Work Based Learning Project modules are designed to address real-life work or professional practice issues and are designed to improve or inform areas of your own or others’ work or practice. The work undertaken can take a variety of forms relevant to your work and is negotiated with your employer (or other relevant party) and the University in order to be beneficial to you and to the organisation(s) you work with. Projects may also generate creative solutions to work-based issues or problems and so provide the opportunity

Entry & applying

 Applicants will need to be engaged in (paid or unpaid) work and/or professional practice prior to and during their proposed programme of study. This is because your work/professional practice will become the subject of your studies.

Typically, you will be an ‘experienced practitioner’ with more than five years of work experience in your field.

Admissions process

Step one – Book a personal consultation
The first step is to discuss your options with a member of the Institute for Work Based Learning advice team. They may then book a personal consultation with an academic advisor who will give you the opportunity to explore the course's benefits in the context of your career history and aspirations. The academic adviser will be able to explain the course in detail and help you form a realistic picture of your likely workload. The academic adviser will also discuss with you the different titles: “Professional Practice” is appropriate where you already have formal educational or professional qualifications in the area, and “Work Based Learning Studies” is more appropriate if your prior learning is in the form of experience.  If you have undertaken previous certificated learning, we can advise you as to whether any academic credits could be recognised in your programme from prior learning at work as well as other existing professional achievements. This will result in a programme estimate, which will  give a rough outline of the likely level of commitment required in both study time and fees.


Step two – Submit an application
Once you have received your programme estimate, you will need to submit your application form, CV, a personal statement, and a copy of your passport or drivers licence. Unless the information on your application form and personal statement varies substantially from that provided during the personal consultation, we will send you a formal offer of a place within five working days.

 
Step three – Accept our offer of a place
We will send you a formal offer of a place and an acceptance form which you will need to complete and return within 14 working days.

Enquiries information
For further information please contact the Enquiries Manager 

Institute for Work Based Learning 
Middlesex University
College House
The Burroughs
London NW4 4BT

Phone: +44 (0)20 8411 5050
Email: Enquiries

Fees & funding

UK/EU £290 per 10 credits

International £490 per 10 credits

There is also an assessment of the portfolio fee of £610 for those entering on the recognition of prior learning stage.

Careers & placements

Professional Practice and Work Based Learning Studies programmes at Middlesex are specifically designed to enhance your effectiveness as a practitioner in your chosen field. You will have the opportunity to gain a qualification that is directly relevant to your field of work and the work-based projects you complete will also make a significant contribution to the achievement of your organisation’s work objectives. Combined, these benefits provide a powerful stimulus to career development and enhancement in your professional area.

Open days

Open days and open evenings offer you the opportunity to learn more about Middlesex, and meet the academic staff at the Institute for Work Based Learning. In addition, Open Days include presentations about Work Based Learning and other subjects, campus and accommodation tours and opportunities to find out more about other aspects of studying at university; these include a guide to applying to university as well as a fees and funding talk.

Book your open evening place now – make sure you select postgraduate, Hendon campus open days. The dates for open evenings are included in the booking form.

We also appreciate that Work Based Learning’s unique approach attracts many learners unable to attend the Hendon campus. You are welcome to have a personalised consultation with a member of the IWBL team via telephone instead of attending an open day or open evening

Case studies

John McLoughlin
Health and Safety Consultant
BSc Work Based Learning Studies in Offshore Health and Safety Training and Management

After leaving school in the mid seventies, John McLouglin gained his seafarers qualifications and spent a decade working on deep sea cargo ships before containerisation revolutionised the industry.   Moving into off shore oil and gas, John completed his Officer of the Watch Certificate.  Undertaking the course led him to discover how much he enjoyed the personal challenge of study, as well as the career progression opportunities. Coming across the Middlesex University BSc Work Based Learning Studies through the Maritime Society, John found that work based learning offered both the flexibility and career focus that he required.

The bespoke nature of the course meant that John was able to design his work-based learning project around his area of professional interest, Health and safety training off shore, its relevance and value for money.   It has been instrumental in John being able to set up as an independent Health and Safety consultant. ’As well as marine and offshore oil and gas, I now also work with renewable energy companies.  I have the professional freedom to choose the work that interests me, and balance it with my family life,’ he said.

Although the distance learning aspect of the course could be tough at times, especially having to rely on internet connections off shore, John enjoyed the experience. Learning about   research methods and self management were instrumental in helping him tackle his wide ranging research project. ‘Having good contact with my academic advisor made my learning experience a very rewarding one. I managed to go from struggling to understanding  what was required of me to gaining a first class BSc with honours in twenty months from start to finish.’

The rewards for John have been both professional and personal.  On a practical level the professional benefits in terms of the opportunities open to him have been substantial. On a personal level  John sums up the work based learning experience as ‘rewarding, enriching, empowering’ and providing a real sense of ‘achievement.’ 

Kathy Seeley
Learning Support Assistants Manager, Mayfield School, Essex
BA Work Based Learning Studies in Secondary Education Leadership Administration

Kathy was drawn to work based learning because it provided both professional development and the recognition of higher education.  Having 5 years experience  gave Kathy  the opportunity to claim  credit for prior learning and reduce her study period down to 2 ½ years part time.   Undertaking the programme has raised Kathy’s status and resulted in her role becoming more managerial in nature.

The flexibility of work based learning allowed Kathy to juggle her commitments and work at her own pace. ‘The whole thing was a fantastic experience and the programme leader was really inspirational.’

 

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