Presentation given at a UNIC meeting in Mittelheim, June 2009. The presentation describes the benefits of an industrial work placement as part of an undergraduate degree course with particular emphasis on the benefit to students.

1. Industrial Placements: The University view Dr Ray Wallace School of Science & Technology Nottingham Trent University, UK

2. In the UK 29% of students undertake a work placement. This compares with the European average of 55%, France at 72% and Germany at 80%. In the Dearing Report in 1997 the British Government recommended that every student should be given the opportunity to undertake a placement.

3. Participation in Work Placements Graduates who participated in work placements/internships (%). Brenda Little, 'Squaring the Circle?', ASET Conference Proceedings 2007.

7. Does a Sandwich Degree make any difference?

8. What do I mean by ‘difference’?

10. Do sandwich students fare better in their studies than they otherwise would have done?

11. Anecdotal evidence says ‘YES’

13. BSc Degree Outcomes Nottingham Trent University Chemistry Department 1998-2001 (with and without industrial training) compared with national results for all subjects and all modes of study % © Ray Wallace 2001

15. Degree Outcomes All Chemistry Courses Nationwide 1995-1998 Data

19. Caveat

21. These alternative and additional factors need to be the subject of further study, however………

28. Any Questions?