Can a professional learning community deliver career development learning?

Michelle Gander, Margot McInnes

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Purpose

    The professional development needs of university professional staff are an under-researched area. More data were needed to understand their needs to ensure that employers invest their resources appropriately. A conceptual framework is developed for the workplace learning of career development activities using concepts of professional learning communities, adult learning and non-formal learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the success of a professional development network in meeting the needs of university professional staff after a re-structure.

    Design/methodology/approach
    A case study of the development of a staff career network at an Australian university after a restructure is presented. An online survey was sent to 75 staff who had attended at least one professional development event. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

    Findings
    This study has shown that a university professional staff career network has been a positive influence for its participants after an organisational restructure. The value of this network was to increase confidence and provide opportunities for self-improvement, career planning and networking.

    Originality/value
    A conceptual model integrating the concepts of professional learning communities, adult learning and non-formal learning has resulted in a model of social non-formalised workplace learning that may be of use in other contexts to improve staff motivation, outside of more formal learning opportunities.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)523-533
    Number of pages11
    JournalJournal of Workplace Learning
    Volume33
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 28 Jul 2021

    Keywords

    • Adult learning
    • Continuing professional development
    • Professional learning communities
    • University professional staff
    • Workplace learning

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Can a professional learning community deliver career development learning?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this