Salford Business School’s Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance, Geoff Evans, was recently invited to present his research paper at the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA) Conference at Dublin City University. The conference serves as a platform for accounting researchers and industry professionals to share their thoughts and insights into the future of accounting education.
About Geoff’s research
Geoff presented his research paper on the benefits of students doing work placements and how to encourage more students to make the most of the opportunities they provide. Geoff has worked with a number of employers over many years in providing students with work placements and has witnessed the positive impact they have all round.
Some highlights from the research
Geoff analysed pre-covid data of Accounting and Finance students over a two-year period from 2016-2018. Of the 212 students, 30 successfully completed a professional placement year where all achieved a first-class or upper second-degree classification (27/30 achieving a first-class).
Geoff also looked at the various capital theories; social, cultural and psychological, to assess students’ previous qualifications, social class and thought processes behind enrolling on the placement year, or not.
Doing a placement year provides students with the practical experiences that can help them secure a graduate role, with many continuing to work for their placement year employers part-time whilst in the final year of their degree.
Geoff is currently supervising three students on their placements and takes pride in seeing their confidence grow with the amazing support of their workplace supervisors.
There is compelling evidence showcasing the benefits of students doing work placements, so he explored how can we encourage more students to do them. Issues related to current working/family commitments, lack of confidence, or the desire to complete their degrees with their friendship groups as some of the reasons students decide on the three-year degree programme.
Future plans
Working with Salford Business School’s Employability Team and Careers, we are hoping to provide more placement opportunities for students by developing their employability skills, enhancing their levels of cultural and social capital, irrespective of the starting points.