The document describes a student work experience program prototype where students: - Are placed in jobs within companies to gain work experience while studying at university - Work with a Work Experience Designer who helps them learn skills and provides support - Use an app and game to track their skill development and find suitable job roles - Provide feedback to companies and help solve their problems in exchange for better grades The program benefits both students in acquiring skills and experience, and companies in evaluating and improving themselves. Students graduate with work experience in addition to their degrees.

1. Course: Design Thinking Action Lab!
Assignment: Prototype & Test!
Author: Sally Graham!
Date: August 18, 2013!
Skill Led Program!

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT!
!
!
STAKEHOLDER: !
(Sophie, a confident young woman, easy to talk to, trustworthy, degree-
holding communicator, who is keen to get a high demand job)
!
need a way to !
NEED: (perform diverse challenging job-related tasks in a short time period)
!
because !
INSIGHT: (understanding her strengths and discovering her passion earlier
will help to define the best career path for her regardless her career choice .)
!

3. My 3 solutions to the problem:
!
Team up with an experienced worker.​ - (The most practical idea) : Usually
interns are involved in low-skilled or simple tasks, working with a experienced
worker and be involve in a more challenging tasks will give him/her a
estimulating start and confidence. The mentor should dedicate some time to
guide the graduate toward learning the skills required for the job.
!
Participate in a skill led program within a company. - (My favorite idea)
Creating a skill-led training program within a company is a way to have a
effective structure that could help graduates and currents employees to
acquire the skills needed quickly in this fast changing world.
!
Play a game to adquire job-related skills in a univesity lab - (the most
disruptive idea) Create a game for graduates to test their ability to learn and
improve their performance. They will receive a challenge that will help them to
learn one or many skills while working in a Simulated Work Environment.

4. !
“I decided to explain what I prototyped and !
!
tested using a storyboard.”!

5. ¿Are
you
ready
for
university?
Yes.
Lectures,
books
and
par:es!
Students talking about university…!

6. Welcome
to
university.
You
will
be
star:ng
on
Monday
on
your
first
job.
Admission process at university!

7. …my
firs
job?
...Can
I
work
without
finishing
my
studies?
Admission process at university!

8. Yes.
In
fact,
you
need
to
work
to
finish
university.
Admission process at university!

9. I
got
a
job
in
IT
company
and
some
lectures.
First day at university!
I’m
working
on
Mondays
and
Tuesdays.

10. Welcome
to
university.
I
will
be
your
Work
Experience
Designer
and
I
will
be
helping
you
to
acquire
hands
on
experience
while
you
are
working.
If
you
have
any
issues
at
work.
Please
let
me
know.
First day at university!

11. Student work experience program!
As
your
Work
Experience
Designer
I
will
help
you
to
acquire
the
skills
you
need
according
what
you
would
love
to
do
for
living
or
while
you
discover
your
passion.

12. You
will
be
asked
to
record
your
experience
at
work
and
write
some
advice
for
new
coworkers.
Student work experience program!

13. You
can
use
the
WED
(your
Work
Experience
Designer)
app
to
keep
track
of
your
skill
set.
You
start
sePng
your
goals
and
review
how
you
doing
in
order
to
learn
the
skills
you
need.
Student work experience program!

14. Student work experience program!
This
game
is
great
to
find
the
job
role
that
I
would
love.

15. Student work experience program!
I’m
a
company
advisor
during
my
last
two
years
of
university.
Every:me
we
help
a
company
to
solve
a
problem
we
receive
beQer
grades.
Companies
keep
sending
us
their
problems/opportuni:es
for
some
feedback..

16. Students exchange opinions of their new jobs…!
I
was
expec:ng
more
lectures
and
I
don´t
like
my
new
job.
I’m
not
sure
if
is
worth
it
to
spend
some
months
there.

17. Students talking their new jobs…!
It
is
amazing
to
be
working
without
experience
and
have
less
lectures.
My
employer
is
used
to
hire
students
so
If
I
make
a
mistake
I
do
not
worry
to
much.
I
just
try
fix
it
and
learn.

18. Students exchange opinions of their new jobs…!
I
should
speak
to
my
WED
(Work
experience
designer),
maybe
I
just
need
another
job
role.

19. Student Work Experience Program!
Student
Companies
University
Work
Experience
Designer
Teachers
teach
and
work
Online
plaXorm
Experienced
Worker

20. Professors teach at university and work at a company !

21. Large companies are happy to be part of the
program!
I
wasn’t
sure
about
hiring
students
without
experience
but
I
discover
that
is
a
great
way
to
evaluate
how
we
are
doing
and
how
to
improve
as
a
company.

22. Small Business are happy to be part of the
program!
I
do
not
have
too
much
money
for
another
salary
but
I
have
:me
to
teach
them
some
skills.
Students
get
grades
for
skills
learned
at
work.

23. Students at university and at work
since they start.!
¿Can
you
apply
this
framework
at
work?

24. Students are evaluated by professors, employers and peers
to get grades for the work done. !
Valuable
skills
associated
with
Communica:ons

25. Students become their own work experience designer.!
Now I know how to
learn what I need
to do what I love.!

26. When they finish university…!
BEFORE!
I have no experience but I
have good grades.!
NOW!
I have good grades and 5 years experience in the
service and retail industry. I work better in a fast-
pace enviroment, I speak spanish and I loved
working as a coordinator.!
!