Work based learning: an accessible curriculum

Encouraged by government initiatives and funding councils’ support for learning in the workplace, those in the field of work based learning could easily overlook the work of people who are not primarily in the market economy. Work based learning is a new curriculum area that is widening participation in higher education because there is support for enhancing employability and upgrading skills for a competitive market. As educators who are developing the frameworks that make these initiatives possible we might also take into account an even wider participation if we take a more holistic view of work. This article looks at the theorising of the work based learning curriculum, some positive and negative ramifications of the developments in curricula using the case of Work Based Learning Studies at Middlesex University and questions whether universities can resist the heavy capital influences of marketisation and commercialisation.