Online co-design of a university Work-Based Learning degree programme: lessons learned from comparing cases in United Kingdom and Eswatini

Greater collaboration is required between universities, industry and society to provide the engineering education that will tackle society’s challenges. Work-based learning (WBL) programmes offer an industry-aligned, academically-informed education to support such socio-economic development. Co-design of such programmes is vital with responses to the COVID-19 pandemic innovating alternative ways to design programmes. Knowles et al (2021) [1] outlined an approach to online programme co-design in the UK university context, framed using Signature Pedagogy and through online conferencing and Miro (online whiteboard). Subsequently, the approach has been utilised to co-design a WBL degree programme in Electrical Engineering in Eswatini, supported by Knowles and other UK and Eswatini colleagues. This paper compares and contrasts cases from UK and Eswatini, and from this address the research question, “What considerations are required to support an effective online process to co-design a work-based learning programme in Engineering?” A collaborative autoethnographic methodology based around field notes, observations and reflections is used to allow exploration across pedagogy, technology, work practices, expectations and challenges. Many aspects of the approach worked well in both cases (for example, effectiveness of Signature Pedagogy, Miro as shared space), whereas differences arose related to limitations in the synchronous use of technologies, and readiness to adopt an outcome-focused approach. Addressing these differences, along with balancing progress against full participation and having clear expectations of participants, are key considerations in online co-design of WBL programmes. Moreover, the approach of Knowles (ibid) has shown to be adaptable with potential for broader adoption.