This document discusses international work placements from the perspective of one academic. It notes that while universities often tout the benefits of study abroad, specifically promoting work placements abroad can be more difficult. Different universities and countries have varying views and commitments to international placements due to differing cultures, policies, and priorities of individual departments. The document also discusses the concept of "Kultur Brillen" or cultural lenses, which influence how placement opportunities are viewed. Barriers to international placements for both students and universities are presented, such as additional costs and loss of social support networks when studying abroad.

1. CAS
Wallace
Dr Ray
International Placements in Chemistry

2. International Placements in
Chemistry
The University View
and “Kultur Brillen”

3. Presentation (with minor editing) given at
the University Network with Industry in
Chemistry and the University Network
with Industry in Biosciences Meeting in
Idstein, Germany 28th October 2016

4. Why do I feel that there is no
overarching university view?

5. Because we all see things
differently and from our
own perspective. Hence a
definitive ‘University view’
is impossible although
many of us will identify
common themes of
importance

6. Whilst you might be right in thinking
that the majority of universities would
say that international placements are a
good thing, when it comes to their
practical commitment to them and the
resources that they put into them then a
different story can start to unfold

7. • Many university websites enthusiastically describe the
benefits for students of a placement abroad –often this
refers predominantly to study at a foreign university
• Valuing specifically a work placement abroad is much
harder to identify although examples of employment are
included in case studies on placements abroad
• Subject disciplines/departments (for example business)
where a work placement is part of their culture do
highlight these opportunities and their benefits
independently on their websites

8. The latter websites are generally
aimed at students. Finding examples
of policy and opinions is much more
difficult but they can be found
….. three examples

10. What are the benefits of a quality placement?
BENEFITS FOR THE INSTITUTION
• Improvement in the university’s reputation amongst students
• Raising the institution’s profile
• Increased positive contact with employers
• Form part of a broader, institution-wide emphasis on business engagement
The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) is an
independent and not-for-profit membership organisation that
promotes, develops and supports university-business
collaboration across the UK

12. International (work)
Placements in Science
One Academic’s View

13. We can imagine opinions on placements and
commitment to them will diverge even further if
we look at things on an international basis

14. This is because:
• No two universities are alike
• No two countries are alike, indeed no two
regions are alike
• Universities differ in the power and autonomy
of individual faculties & departments
• Some universities are ‘central management’
led, others are academic led

15. Firstly some data from the UK

16. Twenty Higher Education
Institutes provided
approximately 70% of all
placements to businesses and
industry. Table lists the
institutions and average
number of placement students
over the period 2002-10

17. JACS (the Joint Academic Coding System)

18. Some snippets from

19. So what are my
personal
reflections and
conclusions
from over 30
years experience
of sandwich
courses?

20. Additional benefits of work experience abroad over and above
employment and technical skills
• Culture and community - working abroad shows a student’s desire to get stuck in and work
alongside local people
• Sink or swim - demonstrate to potential employers that they can cope in a multicultural,
multilingual working environment
• Language skills - these are hugely valuable to employers
• Get up and go - moving abroad and finding work experience shows motivation, independence,
maturity and adaptability
• Travel - a bonus
• Graduate employability – the student will became an applicant that stands out from the crowd
“Working in another country forces students
to step outside their comfort zone, which
opens up opportunities to develop new skills
and have new experiences.”

21. This is where I come at last to
raise the issue of “Kultur Brillen”
A term coined by the German-American
anthropologist Franz Boas many decades ago

22. This idea has been developed and expanded in
recent years by Martin Lindstrom a Dutch brand
strategist and author
• “When we spend too much time in the same environment, we tend
to become blind to our surroundings. In reality, our cultural glasses
are out biggest handicap.”
• “The reality is that the roadblock holding back progress and
transformation isn’t our surroundings. Rather, it’s our own minds.
Our perspective. Our Kultur brillen.”
• “Humans are ruled by inertia. We have a tendency to cling to what is
comfortable, to what seems to be working – until finally, the pain of
remaining the same outweighs the pain of change.”

23. These things are none the less true when it comes to international work
placements and apply to students, academics, employers & university managers
What might be seen as perfectly normal or possible in one academic
environment or by an employer in one country because of their local
conditioning, history and culture might seam alien and at best, impractical to
others
On my final slide I will show you why many British chemistry students will not
want to undertake an industrial placement abroad which might not have been
apparent to you because of “Kultur Brillen”
……… but first some data again from the E4E Education for Engineering report

24. Barriers to placements (quotes from the report)
Students
The overwhelming barrier to increased take-up of Sandwich Courses is down to
students, despite the fact that there are substantial benefits for the individual in taking
up placement opportunities. The issues cited are in the main, practical. The barriers
include the need to fill out application forms during busy periods of the year, uncertainty
in securing a placement, strong peer group pressure to opt out of taking up placements,
finding a placement close to the university or parents’ home, a preference to
concentrate on undergraduate studies and a desire to finish studies early to start work.
Institutions
For Institutions, there is a need to commit substantial human resource to developing
and maintaining relationships with employers. There is a need for close personal
contact with employers from academic and administrative staff. Where this relationship
exists, there are often repeat placements, as employers know that they will receive
good quality students. In terms of developing new business, there is again substantial
effort required to convince employers of the value of placements (particularly SMEs)
and to build relations and trust.
“Increasingly universities are using a careers
and placement team to find new
employer partnerships.”
“A developing problem is the lack of industrial
experience of a growing percentage of academic
staff. They have little knowledge of,
or empathy with industry and can consciously (or
sub-consciously) discourage
students from even considering Sandwich
Courses”

25. Benefits
Problems
• Culture and community
• Sink or swim
• Language skills
• Get up and go
• Travel
• Graduate employability
• Expense/further debt
• UK placements pay full salary, most
foreign ones don’t
• Poor foreign language skills
• Loss of peer group as most students
will not spend a year out
• Student from disadvantaged
background
• Far from home & friends and travel
home difficult/expensive
• Feeling like an outsider

26. Thank you for
reading

27. CAS
+44 (0) 7531860983
dr_ray_wallace@hotmail.com
© Ray Wallace 2016