TRACING THE IMPACT OF WORK PLACEMENTS ON VOCATIONAL LEARNERS: IRELAND NATIONAL REPORT
Comparing current occupations with occupation at the time of placement as shown in Figure 16, the most notable change is the increase of the ‘other administration and services’ category from 6% to 15%. Other proportions remain relatively stable. However, comparing the occupations of only those in full- or part-time employment with their placement occupations shows a high degree of occupational change in this group: only 12.5% were working in the same occupational area as their placement. This percentage is considerably lower than the rate of agreement with the statement ‘my current employment or education is related to the field of my placement abroad’ (Figure 32). Roughly one-third of respondents agreed with this ‘a lot’ or ‘completely’. Just under a third said their current employment or education was related ‘to some extent’ or ‘a little’, while 34% said it was ‘not at all’ related. The comparison is not perfect because the statement asks about ‘education or employment’ rather than just employment, but it seems clear that participants in mobility experiences do not necessarily go on to work in the same field as their placements. Against this, there is the fact that 70% of respondents agreed that the training or work placement abroad had increased their chances of finding a job. Some 42% agreed ‘a lot’ or ‘completely’ that their chances of finding a job in Ireland had increased, and a further 32% agreed ‘to some extent’. The figures for perceived increase in the chances of finding a job abroad were 39% and 31% respectively (Figure 34).
Figure 34: Contribution of placement to employment (n=317) Q12 'To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? 'Thanks to the training or work placement abroad …' 0%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
I learnt about how workplaces and my industry function differently to how they do in Ireland
6%
I encountered a professional environment, organisation and culture of work, which is different from in Ireland
5% 6%
9%
12%
14%
My chances of finding a job in Ireland increased
12%
12%
I learnt elements of the profession that I would not have been able to learn at my school or college
7%
7%
I encountered ways of learning a profession, which are different from the way we learn it in Ireland
7%
10%
Not at all
Only a little
4% 8%
To some extent
71
35%
25%
31%
27%
29%
Completely
17%
37%
25%
31%
20%
14%
25%
32%
19%
A lot
32%
31%
22%
My chances of finding a job abroad increased
I gained practical professional experience
29%
22%
26%
39%
Not applicable
