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Should Electrical Tutors at FE colleges in the UK be mandated to complete a minimum of 1 week per year working in industry?

Sergio Fernandez

Should Electrical Tutors at FE colleges in the UK be mandated to complete a minimum of 1 week per year working in industry?


Points to consider
The work placement could be in Domestic/Commercial/Industrial and could also include specialisms like ATEX (ATmosphères EXplosibles)

The placement could be seen as a type of Enhanced CPD (Continuing Professional Development) so to speak

Experiences onsite could filter back into the educational space with regards to new techniques and modern day materials being used,  EG use of RCBO type B or SPD type 2 in CU/DB(Consumer Unit/Distribution Board) or GRP containment.

Broadening the horizons of the FE tutor could also lead to more rounded educational experience for the learners, this could include activities like commenting on feedback on the public draft of BS 7671

This tutor placement/work exchange could also help form a better relationship between the local FE college and future employers when the learners progress to requiring evidence for NVQ modules.



As always please be polite and respectful in this purely academic debate.





Come on everybody let’s help inspire the future.

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  • I like the idea in principle, but I'm not sure sufficient placements would be available. From an employer point of view a week would be too short to get any practical benefit from the exercise (half the time would go on "induction|" and "orientation" - e.g.. becoming familiar with the companies specific H&S policies and getting used to what exactly that company is about).  Even teenage work experience usually lasts several weeks at a go and that's more about them seeing what's happening rather than actually doing anything useful. The old idea of a sabbatical - i.e. one year in seven - going off and doing something more practical might be better in that respect (and I understand encouraged by some academic institutions in AUS/NZ).

       - Andy. 

  • in reply to AJJewsbury

    That raises a problem of money - folk are presumably wanting to continue be paid at some level while doing this, after all they have mortgages to pay and meals to eat, and the institution they are leaving will need  to find and fund a short contract replacement for them. Equally there won't be that many potential hosts who can meaningfully employ  someone for a limited period only.

    The sabbatical idea, at least at UK Universities, which I know most about,  is financially complex - the person may be on full pay, or part pay or even no pay, at the discretion of the department they have temporarily left.

    For example in some cases when they are on loan to another department elsewhere, perhaps a dept in another country,  then they are normally paid either in part or fully, by that place instead.

    Equally someone who is on sabbatical to say write a text  book or publish a series of papers or to do original research,  probably remains 100% supported by their home institution.
     I'm not sure that any of this would translate well into what we are considering here.

    I'm of the idea that shorter periods are in order and even day visits to look and see would be of some benefit, rather than actual employment, and then the money is less of an issue.
    Mike

  • in reply to AJJewsbury

    Valid point Andy,  Maybe it should be several weeks a year rather than 1 week a year.

    Kudos to academic institutions in AUS/NZ). 1 year work experience in 7 years of teaching sounds like the progressive thinking that is needed.

  • in reply to mapj1
    mapj1 said:
    the institution they are leaving will need  to find and fund a short contract replacement for them

    Not if the electrical company were to send somebody the other way - i.e. a short-term job swap.

    It is an interesting idea, but I think too messy in practice, which may explain why it has not happened already.

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  • in reply to mapj1
    mapj1 said:
    the institution they are leaving will need  to find and fund a short contract replacement for them

    Not if the electrical company were to send somebody the other way - i.e. a short-term job swap.

    It is an interesting idea, but I think too messy in practice, which may explain why it has not happened already.

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