ABSTRACT
At a time of increasing social, cultural and technological complexity, the workplace is both an outcome that many higher education (HE) students strive to succeed in and a site of learning for those who seek to progress in their careers. This chapter explores the implications of this through the development of work based learning (WBL) as a response to the imperative for more relevant HE in today's economy. It reviews the context that drives work oriented pedagogical developments in HE. The chapter sketches out some theoretical foundations highlighting pragmatic, problem-solving and reflective approaches that lie at the heart of WBL pedagogy and the challenges that these bring to the traditional curriculum that universities offer. It describes a prevalent form of WBL founded upon project-based work placement as part of a course curriculum. The chapter outlines a whole course representing a more radical challenge to the traditional academic curriculum delivered in the classroom.
