Workplace Learning werkplekleren is an organized, hands-on experience program which offers an opportunity for employees to receive some real first hand, on the job training or experience. It is also a valuable asset for any type of business considering that the more in tune with the needs and concerns of others in their workplace, the more likely they are to be successful and stay with the organization long term. However, learning at work can be a little off-putting to some people. This is where workplace learning comes in.
Workplace Learning can help prepare employees for their careers by providing the opportunity to explore and enhance existing skills while enhancing skills they may have not had the chance to test in the traditional classroom environment. Many people view workplace learning as a waste of time that doesn’t add anything of value to their life or career. However, the facts show that this belief is misplaced. Employees who participate in workplace learning experience immediate improvements in their abilities. They are able to apply what they learn in a real-world situation and develop personal and professional skills that they may never have been able to practice in the traditional workplace.
By presenting students with real-world scenarios that require different types of skills, workplace learning presents students with an opportunity to improve their knowledge and in turn their performance, while simultaneously increasing their understanding of the concepts behind the material taught. This allows students to test and develop new skills. Workspace Learning is not a waste of time. Instead, it teaches students valuable life skills such as self-confidence, responsibility, teamwork, and more. As students become better acquainted with the work environment and other people in their workplaces, it becomes easier for them to understand how their performance affects the organization and their skills as individuals.
Organizations that offer workplace learning experiences to employees usually set up programs that are relevant to the employee’s field of expertise. This enables the employee to gain a thorough grounding in that particular field. In turn, the student develops essential skills that will serve him or her well throughout life. Such an environment provides a great platform for employees to enhance their skills and knowledge. In the end, most employees who participate receive full recognition for their efforts and those who don’t usually perform as well as they can, because they had no access to the right kind of learning programs.
The HR department is often involved in setting up such workplace learning programs. In some instances, the department may be the one that contracts out the work, but in other cases an external agency may handle it. Either way, the role of the workplace skills and career liaison is very important.
Some HR managers see this as a means of ensuring that graduates have the necessary skills to be employed in the industry, while others see it as a useful tool for enhancing internal competency. It depends on the manager’s view, but no matter what the perspective is, the role of the workplace skills and career liaison is valuable indeed. In some cases, the initiative has been taken up by HR staff themselves, especially those who work within the department or are closely related to it. They may be called on by the company to lead pilot projects, for example, which concentrate on training and development of the company’s own employees as well as attracting new talent through unpaid internships.