9.4 This is for real

Some students are unmotivated because they regard academic work as artificial, and academic staff as lacking in "real world" skills.

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This bundle bridges the gap between university and industry/commerce by using "real life" trainers to teach the key skills necessary for good project work.

How it works is you get staff from the training departments of companies with a large IT base to provide learning opportunities in non-technical skills such as presentation skills, report writing, team skills, project management or time management.

Because the sessions are run by experts in the field of training for these key skills, students accept their importance, and their real world relevance, more readily than they would from academic staff. Useful company contacts are also made.

It works better if key skills are assessed as part of the project and if the sessions are scheduled such that the students need to use their newly acquired skills soon afterwards.

It doesn't work if companies misunderstand the purpose of the session, so close liaison is necessary.

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So: help students see the relevance of the processes and production of University projectwork by involving people from the "real" world in projects.