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A review of the basic elements, organizational and theoretical foundations of work-based learning (WBL) in the higher educationThe aim of the study is to review basic elements, organizational and theoretical foundations of work-based learning (WBL) in the higher education, based mostly on the experience of higher education institutions in the United Kingdom. Methodology and research methods. The methods of system and comparative analysis, synthesis and generalization are used. Results . This review article summarizes briefly: the social attributes of students who prefer to complete WBL programs; relevant requirements of employers to the quality of training; a new university policy on the management of training, and its contribution to the creation of innovative educational environment at workplaces; overcoming challenges when establishing long-term partnerships between universities and enterprises; organizational and theoretical foundations of the WBL study programs. A number of critical remarks on WBL study programs are being analyzed. Authors make a point about the importance of a transdisciplinary shell framework to facilitate learning driven by the interests of the learner(s). When carrying out the review, authors refer also to the experience of other English-speaking countries (Australia and the USA), which also successfully develop the concept under consideration. Scientific novelty . For the first time an analytical review of basic elements, organizational and theoretical foundations of work-based learning (WBL) in the higher education, which is widespread in English-speaking countries over the last 25 years, is presented in the Russian scientific literature in education. Practical significance. The materials provided in the article can be useful to managers and teachers of higher education institutions, methodologists of higher and vocational education providers and departments of professional development of High-Tech enterprises.
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Reducing quiet quitting in the contemporary workplace: Four focus areasPurpose: This viewpoint paper aims to provide four recommendations to improve belonging and reduce quiet quitting in the contemporary workplace. Design/methodology/approach: This paper synthesises recent academic and contextual literature regarding remote teams, organisational belonging and quiet quitting coupled with the authors’ practical experience as leaders within a multinational organisation and in a university setting. Findings: Four focus areas related to leaders as the lynchpin to improved socialisation, connection and belonging in the workplace and therefore reduced quiet quitting. Originality/value: In the continued contemporary working landscape of remote working, wider workforce demographics and declining organisational engagement, this paper contributes to literature by presenting key focus areas coupled with four practical recommendations for human resource professionals, leaders and organisations to focus on to reduce the risk of quiet quitting.
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Supply chain and digital transformation in the automotive industryThe aim of this thesis is to fill a gap in the literature by evaluating how digitalisation transforms the automotive industry in Germany, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina as the countries move from Industry 3.0 to 4.0. To achieve the research aim, secondary and primary data were collected through multiple choice and open-ended survey questionnaires. The questionnaires were distributed to respondents in three automotive firms and suppliers (Thyssenkrupp Presta, AD Plastik and ASA Prevent). They were recruited using convenience and chain referral samplings. Out of 800 questionnaires, 142 participants responded. Multiple-choice responses were analysed using correlation, regression and cross-tabulation analyses. Open-ended texts were evaluated using thematic analysis. The thesis revealed the following findings: firms assist their suppliers in improving digitalisation (backward and upstream supply chain collaboration, including risk sharing and customer focus). Firms are in stage three out of four supply-chain automation stages. However, they are currently in stage four out of six digitalisation stages. Both collaboration and digitalisation levels affect product quality; firms tend to undertake a high level of R&D to enhance new product development through a downstream part of the supply chain collaboration. Collaboration is regarded vital for vertical and horizontal integration. Collaboration and customer focus are the most important aspects in implementing digitalisation; the advantage of electric vehicles is energy conservation by steering away from fuel and oil. Unfortunately, they also emit toxic battery waste, leading to environmental degradation. Moreover, the growth of the vehicle charging stations infrastructure has not kept pace with the growth of electric vehicles; digitalisation has transformed the labour market. It has abolished conventional labour. However, education and training are not consistently conducted at all levels in companies. The findings contain strategic implications for the industries to upskill the labour force to enhance digitalisation, supply-chain automation and AI skills facing Industry 4.0.
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Outsourcing marketing - the why, the what, the how, and the so whatThe focus of this research was to explore the drivers, processes and measurement protocols for the outsourcing of marketing, through the lens of both experienced client side and supply-side marketers. Here, the ultimate aim was to arrive at some decision-making best practices that can enhance the way in which organisations choose to engage (or not) in the outsourcing of marketing.
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Exploring Future Scenarios for Strengthening Science, Technology, and Innovation Collaboration between Egypt and BRICS CountriesIn this study, the potential enhancement of science, technology, and innovation (STI) collaboration between Egypt and the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and new members (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE) is analyzed by scenario analysis until 2040. It highlights the significance of Egypt's recent BRICS membership in 2024 and its alignment with the country’s Vision 2030. The study identifies key drivers for STI collaboration, including government policies, economic and investment factors, technological capacity, and the private sector’s role. The paper employs a methodology combining literature reviews, expert inputs, and scenario writing to develop three future scenarios: strategic partnership (“Green Zone”), full integration (“BRICS Harmony”), and limited engagement (“Narrow Path”). These scenarios reflect varying degrees of cooperation, driven by economic, political, and technological factors. These scenarios envision varying degrees of cooperation based on economic, political, and technological factors, with a focus on creating a sustainable, innovation-driven economy in Egypt. The paper emphasizes the importance of building robust international partnerships, investing in technology, and developing research infrastructure to enable Egypt to maximize the benefits of its BRICS membership and strengthen its role in the global digital economy. Policy recommendations are offered to ensure long-term success, including enhancing public-private partnerships, fostering innovation, and aligning national policies with BRICS standards.
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Nigeria's transition to a circular economy: challenges, opportunities and future perspectivesThe concept of a circular economy (CE) is a sustainable development strategy aimed at minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency. This paper explores the transition towards a circular economy in Nigeria, providing an overview of the challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives. Nigeria is rich in natural resources and has significant economic potential. However, the country faces severe environmental, economic, and social challenges that could be met with a circular economy. Although Nigeria has abundant natural resources and great economic potential, it faces many significant environmental, economic, and social challenges that must be addressed to move to a circular economy as a viable solution. The methods used in research are based on a mixed-methods research approach; the study synthesises findings from a comprehensive literature review, case studies of Nigerian businesses adopting CE practices, and insights from a SWOT analysis conducted in consultation with experts. The conclusions of the SWOT analysis, enriched by discussions with experts, form the basis for a set of targeted recommendations. These recommendations are aimed at policymakers, business leaders, and practitioners, outlining strategic actions to overcome the identified barriers and harness the opportunities inherent in a circular economy. This paper contributes to the scholarly discourse on sustainability and serves as a practical guide for other developing countries navigating the transition to a circular economy. It underscores the urgency and feasibility of adopting circular economy principles in Nigeria, highlighting the path towards a more sustainable, efficient, and economically robust future. In the study, prospects for Nigeria to benefit from include increased resource efficiency, job creation, economic diversification, and environmental sustainability if the circular economy approach were applied.
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The circular blue economy in Egypt: opportunities for regional cooperation and integration with Mediterranean countries for sustainable developmentThis study examines the possibility of the Circular Blue Economy in Egypt to support sustainable development and the usage of its renewable resources, focusing on possibilities for regional collaboration, particularly in the Mediterranean region. The study's methodology was an analysis of missing policies, identifying key actors, and an expert survey to identify future collaborations and opportunities, which included 20 experts from diverse sectors. Current policies in Egypt (e.g., Egypt Vision 2030) and the Mediterranean region were analyzed against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 14) and regional initiatives such as BLUEMED and SwitchMed, highlighting shortcomings in cooperation, investment, and environmental measures. The main parties, including the Egyptian government, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), the private sector, and local communities, were grouped according to their level of interest and influence. Findings indicate that Egypt's strategic location and extensive coastline are suited to drive regional efforts in maritime tourism, aquaculture, and maritime transport. Yet, problems, including marine litter and underfunding, continue. Experts also support the creation of regional cooperation platforms and joint pollution monitoring systems. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to integrate circular economy concepts into government strategies, strengthen collaboration across the region, and establish a collaborative and innovation-based ocean governance model. The paper presents new ideas to support regional integration and suggests additional studies on sustainable financing mechanisms.
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Purification of olive mill waste: a circular economy model for the Mediterranean regionWhen olive mill wastewater is given directly to nature without being treated, natural waters become coloured, aquatic life is adversely affected, surface and underground waters are polluted, bad odours occur, and soil quality deteriorates. For these reasons, waste water is not allowed to be poured into soil and water without being discharged. This problem has become a problem that needs to be solved for the Mediterranean countries. With this study, acid cracking and chemical treatability studies achieved the conversion of the physicochemical pretreatment process of olive black water to an automation system. With the applied processes, removal efficiencies of 85% for Chemical Oxygen Demand, 99% for suspended solids, 97% for oil grease and 92% for phenol were obtained. Since the mixing processes of the tanks in the chemical additions are long, the heating chamber in the acid cracking process is designed larger than the tanks. Thus, when there is a black water density in the system, the heating tank in this system can be used as a heating and resting tank in sudden densities in this system. This waste separation process includes producing raw materials, protecting natural resources, and increasing sustainability. In particular, separating the phenol material and making it usable have been essential gains.
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Policy options in accelerating circular economy adoption in the Gulf countriesThe transition to a circular economy is a pivotal step for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, given the growing environmental challenges, scarce resources, and the urgent need to diversify economies away from hydrocarbon dependence. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of policies to accelerate the adoption of the circular economy in the Gulf countries based on a multi-dimensional analytical framework encompassing Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, and Political (STEEP) aspects. Drawing on consultations with regional experts and specialized researchers, numerous case studies, and global best practices. The study reviews a set of proposed policies to accelerate investment in the circular economy in the Gulf countries. These include various tools such as investment in clean technology, strong political support, and the establishment of circular funds. It also reviews the challenges and outcomes of recycling, stimulates legislation, and reduces traditional consumption patterns. The study also presents a "causal loop diagram" (CLD) highlighting the dynamic interactions and feedback influencing the transition to a circular economy. The findings emphasize the importance of aligning regulatory policies, providing financial incentives, developing circular infrastructure, and enhancing community awareness. The study concludes by proposing six actionable policy options constituting a roadmap tailored specifically to the Gulf context, contributing to integrating circular economy principles into national development strategies. It contributes to the sustainable development literature by proposing realistic and effective policies that enable Gulf countries to lead in circular innovation and low-carbon growth. It further contributes to the growing discourse on sustainable development by offering actionable, context-sensitive policy recommendations for fostering a resilient and circular Gulf economy.
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Investigation of corporate sustainability performance data and developing an innovation-oriented novel analysis method with multi-criteria decision making approachThis study addresses the growing importance of integrating innovation into corporate sustainability strategies by examining the financial and environmental performance of ten firms listed on the Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index over a five-year period. The main objective is to develop and test a novel, data-driven analytical framework that reduces reliance on subjective expert judgments while providing actionable insights for sustainability-oriented decision-making. Within this framework, the entropy method from the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach is first applied to calculate the objective weights of sustainability criteria, ensuring that the analysis is grounded in real performance data. Building on these weights, an innovative reverse Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) model, implemented through a custom artificial neural network-based software, is introduced to estimate direct influence matrices and reveal the causal relationships among criteria. This methodological advance makes it possible to explore how environmental and financial factors interact with R&D expenditures and to simulate their systemic interdependencies. The findings demonstrate that R&D serves as a central driver of both environmental and financial sustainability, highlighting its dual role in fostering corporate innovation and long-term resilience. By positioning R&D as both an enabler and outcome of sustainability dynamics, the proposed framework contributes a novel tool for aligning innovation with strategic sustainability goals, offering broader implications for corporate managers, policymakers, and researchers.
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The impact of neoliberalist government reform and regulatory oversight on private training providers in the UK technical education sectorPurpose: Adopting the lens of ambidexterity, this paper examines decision-making within private technical education providers as they attempt to meet workforce and UK government training demands against a backdrop of unprecedented pace of global change in technology. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative data, drawn from semi-structured interviews of participants within a private training provider, was analysed thematically to investigate common patterns, clarify understanding and identify development areas to inform government bodies and private provider apprenticeship delivery practices. Findings: The findings reveal the extent to which neoliberalism is potentially undermining technical education reform and increasing regulation whilst decreasing trust and reducing authentic partnerships between key stakeholders, together negatively impacting ambidextrous decision-making. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited by the use of a monolingual, monocultural sample; therefore, a broader cross-section of respondents from a wider range, size and geographical location of training providers may result in a deeper understanding of the varying tensions and challenges associated with technical education reform. Practical implications: This work seeks to inform policymakers of the wider consequences of neoliberalism and provide recommendations for government bodies and technical training providers to work collaboratively in seeking solutions to the barriers in delivering vocational training fit for a future-proof workforce. Originality/value: This paper builds on a limited body of research examining the dual impact of once in a lifetime technological challenges and the consequence of neoliberalism upon ambidextrous decision-making within private providers of post-16 technical education.
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An investigation of the effects of retinoids and mesenchymal stem/stromal cell secretomes on embryonic stem cellsGastrulation is a landmark event in early embryonic development that marks the formation of the three germ layers. Spatiotemporal activation of retinoic acid receptors (RAR) α, β, and γ is crucial for proper embryonic development. In addition, mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) secretomes encompass trophic biological factors that provide global signalling pathways capable of regulating immature cell types via paracrine activities. The overall aim of this study was to explore (i) the influence of ATRA and highly selective agonists and antagonists for RARα and RARγ in the regulation of gastrulation and (ii) how the paracrine activity of MSCs regulates immature cell types during development. Transcriptome analysis conducted on a pre-existing mouse ES cell gastruloid dataset (Rossi et al., 2021) revealed the level of expression of RARα and RARγ in developing gastruloids identified heterogeneous cell types. UMAPs showed that mRNA RARα expression was ubiquitous. In contrast, RARγ mRNA expression was restricted to primitive cell types and strongly associated with the expression of stem cell markers, namely Pou5f1 (Oct4), Nanog, Sox2, Sox1, and Tbxt (Brachyury) at days 4, 5, and 6 of gastruloid development. Immunofluorescence (IF) revealed presence of RARα and RARγ in mouse ES cells, both primarily localised within nucleus, with some detected in the cytoplasm. Treatment of mouse ES cells with RARγ agonist significantly reduced ES cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas RARα agonism mirrors control effect. Additionally, WNT-induced gastruloid axial elongation was blocked by ATRA and RARγ agonist treatment. Conversely, 10 nM RARα agonist treatment slightly enhanced elongation, though not statistically significant. Surprisingly, 100 nM RARα agonist disrupted gastruloid elongation. Co-addition of RARγ antagonist to override the effect of ATRA blockage showed marginal effect. Serum-supplemented and serum-free (sf) MSC conditioned medium (CM) bound to the culture substratum had no significant impact on ES cell proliferation but was marginally better than control. 24 h serum or serum-free MSC CM had a comparable effect on ES cell proliferation to their respective control conditions, whereas late harvested MSC CM (48 h and 72 h) inhibited ES cell proliferation. Proteomic analysis of sfMSC CM identified 38 proteins consistently secreted across 48 h sfMSC CM triplicate samples. GO revealed enrichment in excreted factors and extracellular factors, while KEGG pathways identified 12 associated biological processes. STRING analysis revealed a complex, functionally interconnected protein-protein interaction (PPI), highlighting sfMSC secretome coordinated functional roles. Investigation of the paracrine activity of 48 h sfMSC secretomes on mouse ES gastruloids revealed induction of gastruloid elongation structure, albeit at ~58% frequency. Overall, the studies presented in this thesis have made use of a highly tractable gastruloid system to show that signals provided by RARα and RARγ, WNT/β-catenin, and extracellular signalling as provided by paracrine activities of MSC secretomes are integrated to mediate events during gastruloid development.
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Adapting scenario planning to create an expectation for surprises: Going beyond probability and plausibility in risk assessmentThe need for risk assessments to take full account of uncertainty by going beyond probability and creating an expectation for surprises has recently been highlighted in this journal. This paper sets out an adaptation to the Intuitive Logics (IL) scenario-planning method that assists risk assessors to achieve this aim. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this adaptation through a controlled experiment. The controlled experiment took the form of a simulated IL scenario-planning exercise in which individuals assigned values representative of extreme outcomes to sets of simple and more complex clusters of driving forces under three experimental conditions representing alternative uncertainty expressions (‘probable’, ‘plausible’, and ‘surprising’). The values assigned in the ‘probable’ and ‘plausible’ conditions were not significantly different from each other. However, the ‘surprising’ condition resulted in the assignment of more extreme values than either of the other two conditions. The complexity of a set of clustered driving had no effect. A follow-up analysis showed that participants interpreted the words ‘probable’ and ‘plausible’ similarly. This is problematic for scenario methods like IL, which are claimed to stretch consideration of the future’s potential extremity beyond what it would be using probability by instead employing plausibility. Yet, if participants interpret ‘probable’ and ‘plausible’ similarly, then using plausibility instead of probability will not stretch their thinking as desired. By adapting IL in the simple way this paper outlines, scenario planning can assist risk assessors to go beyond both probability and plausibility, thereby taking fuller account of uncertainty and improving anticipation of surprises.
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Global fan activism in sports: Digital collective action and the case of #EmptyOldTraffordAt a time of growing consumer activism facilitated by digital communications, the phenomenon of collective action increasingly confronts sports clubs. This study examines an episode involving fans of a globally recognized football club (Manchester United) who were able make the hashtag #EmptyOldTrafford trend globally in protest towards the club’s ownership at the time.
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Enabling organisational congruency? A critical examination of character, culture and strategic intent at the University of ChesterHigher Education (HE) in England has been subject to significant change over the past 20 years, with most recent concerns including the sector’s long-term future as financial pressures reach a critical point in many institutions. Set against a challenging, arguably neoliberal environment, and using a mixed methods approach, I critically examine the character, culture and strategic intent of one university – the University of Chester (UoC). As an insider researcher, and through utilising an adapted version of the Organisational Character Index (OCI) (Bridges, 2000) with 75% (n=47) of UoC middle managers, I assert that the organisational character type for UoC is ISTJ and the organisational shadow is ENFP. Using this data, alongside analysis from an in-depth interview with the current Vice Chancellor, three key contributions to knowledge are noted; 1) A proposed model of character influence on organisational congruence; 2) The novel application of the Organisational Character Index to a university; and 3) The important identification of the ambivert organisation. Recommendations for germane training and development are offered for UoC, alongside opportunities for further research.
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Coaching for wellbeing and engagement in contemporary work environmentsWellbeing and engagement in the workplace have been on the decline since 2020. This decline is attributed to factors such as economic instability, technological change, demographic shifts and new workplace settings employees and employers are experimenting with. This atmosphere continues to challenge employers and employees. Increased levels of flexibility and autonomy bring benefits and simultaneously pose heavy demands on workforces and companies. Upskilling workforces and leaders to better navigate these new work environments is indispensable. Extant literature acknowledges a decline in wellbeing and engagement but is inconclusive about what skills are required to equip the future workforces. Workforces have a strong desire in keeping the benefits flexibility and autonomy offer despite the negative impacts likewise evidenced. Leaders play an important role in shaping workplaces and in supporting their workforces. Synchronously, leaders themselves must develop new skills and drive the cultural and technological transformation of their organisations. This research project aims to provide more clarity about the specific skills leaders require to navigate these ambivalent dynamics and complex workplace situations. Furthermore, the role of coaching in these evolving workplace settings is investigated. A multimethod approach is deployed, comprising an online questionnaire to the researcher’s client base in Germany and England, her network on LinkedIn, and two focus groups to further reveal latent themes developed in the online questionnaire. Reflexive thematic analysis is used to develop themes from both datasets to answer the research questions posed. The findings of this research project add knowledge to existing literature about the growing importance of flexibility and autonomy for workforces, the ambivalent nature flexibility and autonomy entails, and how wellbeing and engagement can be negatively impacted by these paradoxical dynamics. Insights are added about the interrelatedness of competing interests and the impact an individual’s decision can have on the collective causing friction at task and at people level. A deeper understanding is provided for work process adaptation to alleviate workloads and time spent in meetings, paired with suggestions on how to humanise workplaces dominated by technology. Additionally, the findings present recommendations for practitioners to better balance ambiguities and paradoxical needs of new work. Ideas are proposed to re-design learning and leadership development programmes to upskill employees in organisations so they can benefit from the gains of flexible work arrangements and mitigate the deficiencies. A conceptual model synthesises the contributions made and exposes the unique skills combinations from the findings to support wellbeing and engagement in contemporary workplaces. A 4-phase framework is offered to practitioners to support reflections and facilitate skills transitions to the workplace. The findings and recommendations developed from the data are applicable to specific sectors including the automotive industry and their suppliers.
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Enhancing workplace eLearning with branching scenarios: An action case studyPurpose: This study explores how learner engagement evolves over time in workplace eLearning when branching scenarios are used to simulate real-world decision-making. It addresses a gap in understanding how instructional design influences sustained motivation and cognitive processing across multiple stages of digital training. Design/methodology/approach: A quasi-longitudinal Action Case Research design was employed. Ten adult learners participated in thirty semi-structured interviews conducted before, during, and after completing a branching scenario-based e-learning module. Thematic analysis was used to explore shifts in engagement, motivation, and cognitive responses over time. Findings: Engagement was strongest when scenarios mirrored real job tasks, enabling learners to make contextual decisions and experience “safe failure". Structured progression, authentic relevance, and timely feedback supported sustained motivation. However, engagement declined when content became repetitive, insufficiently challenging, or cognitively overwhelming. The findings highlight how scenario design can balance cognitive load and foster experiential learning. Practical implications: The findings provide guidance for learning and development professionals seeking to implement engaging, job-relevant digital learning programmes. Design recommendations include using authentic scenarios, scaffolding task complexity, and incorporating adaptive feedback mechanisms. Originality: This study contributes to the limited body of workplace longitudinal research on digital learning engagement by applying Cognitive Load Theory and Experiential Learning Theory to examine how branching scenarios influence learner engagement, motivation and knowledge retention over time. It offers practical insights for designing scenario-based training that is both cognitively efficient and contextually relevant.
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B2B Marketing: An exploratory study into how B2B brands influence the purchase decision in a SME contextTraditionally, the Business to Business (B2B) brand has been regarded as relatively unimportant, and that the decision making unit is focused on making rational purchase decisions with emotional factors being considered as having minimal influence. The increasing need for B2B suppliers to find new ways of maintaining a competitive advantage has strengthened the importance of the B2B brand. This shift has intensified the need to examine the influences on the B2B purchase decision including examining the buying process, the characteristics of the decision making unit and the potential role of the brand as a significant influence on the purchase decision. Drawing on Mudambi’s (2002) assertion that “branding is not important to all organisational buyers, or in all situations” (p. 527), and addressing the lack of recent studies examining the buying process and decision making unit in the context of significant purchases in Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the B2B brand on the decision making unit in reaching the purchase decision. In fulfilling the purpose of this thesis, this researcher adopted a constructivist ontology and interpretivist epistemology. Within a case study research method, semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the members of the decision making unit which consisted of senior managers of SMEs based in the northwest of England and thus resulted in gaining a greater understanding of the experiences, perceptions and observations of how the B2B brand impacts on B2B purchase decision. The findings from this study revealed that the B2B brand exerts a strong influence on the decision making unit in making significant complex purchase decisions. The insights from this research illustrate that the B2B brand is more than just a discrete purchase criterion. It represents key tangible and intangible brand benefits. Although the decision making unit places a high priority on the tangible benefits, this study uncovers that it is the intangible brand attributes that have the greatest influence on the final purchase decision. As a result, a significant contribution of this study is the recognition that the purchase decision is shaped not only by the rational evaluation iv of the high priority tangible benefits, but also by the emotive elements that play a critical role in the decision making unit’s evaluation of the suppliers’ offerings. In examining the role of the brand in the purchase decision, the findings also revealed that the decision making unit within SMEs display distinct characteristics of a core and peripheral elements and distinguish between the role of selector from influencers. Finally, the findings uncovered an alternative buying process characterised by a set of iterative steps, reflecting how SMEs reach complex purchase decisions. It is recommended that B2B suppliers invest in brands that take into consideration the importance of the different brand attributes and priorities of the decision making unit.
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Exploring mentorship in apprenticeship success: the relationship between construction degree apprentices and their work-based mentorsPurpose: Degree apprenticeships are becoming more established within the higher education sector, however within England there are growing concerns around the completion rates of apprentices. Whilst there are a number of factors which could be impacting this, the support structure surrounding apprentices throughout their programme is a key consideration. This study aims to investigate the support relationship between construction degree apprentices and their work-based mentors through the lived experiences of both the apprentice and the mentor. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopted a qualitative cross-sectional approach, collecting data from three focus groups involving Level 6 apprentices from a higher education institution and their work-based mentors based in England. The data was analysed inductively using NVivo 12 software to identify codes and key themes. Findings: The relationship between the apprentice and their work-based mentor is key to the success of degree apprenticeships. The data analysis recognised three key themes: knowledge of the apprenticeship process, support structure and employer provider relationship. Originality/value: This study is an original contribution addressing a gap in the literature around higher-level apprentices and their work-based mentors, generating and analysing new primary data, identifying ongoing issues and formulating subsequent recommendations for practice. There are also implications for the current English apprenticeship model and those seeking to adopt or adapt it more widely.
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The value of experiments in futures and foresight science as illustrated by the case of scenario planningAn already pressing need to evidence the effectiveness of futures and foresight tools has been further amplified by the coronavirus pandemic, which highlighted more mainstream tools' difficulty with uncertainty. In light of this, the recent discussion in this journal on providing futures and foresight science with a stronger scientific basis is welcome. In this discussion critical realism has been proffered as a useful philosophical foundation and experiments a useful method for improving this field's scientific basis. Yet, experiments seek to isolate specific causal effects through closure (i.e., by controlling for all extraneous factors) and this may cause it to jar with critical realism's emphasis on uncertainty and openness. We therefore extend the recent discussion on improving the scientific basis of futures and foresight science by doing three things. First, we elaborate on critical realism and why the experimental method may jar with it. Second, we explain why the distinction between a conceptual and a direct replication can help overcome this jarring, meaning experiments can still be a valuable research tool for a futures and foresight science underpinned by critical realism. Third, we consider the appropriate unit of analysis for experiments on futures and foresight tools. In so doing, we situate the recent discussion on improving the scientific basis of futures and foresight science within the much longer running one on improving the scientific basis of business, management and strategy research more broadly. We use the case of scenario planning to illustrate our argument in relation to futures and foresight science.
