Elective Midwifery Placement in Enterprise (QAA 12567) #FEEUK

Objectives:

• Raise student’s awareness and understanding of what it could mean to be an enterprising and intrapreneurial midwife
• Inspire and support students to use new tools and resources that could enhance practice and support clients 
• Connect and enthuse students through sessions from healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs who are affecting positive change within their professions  
• Build confidence to articulate their enterprise skills in job applications and interviews

Introduction:

This four-day placement runs twice a year (March and June) for students who are interested in developing and reflecting upon their enterprise skills, and/or want to begin to develop an “idea” that could improve their practice and/or enhance client’s experiences.

The placement was first piloted in 2018, as a result of a conversation in which the Head of Midwifery wanted to explore ways for midwifery students to engage with enterprise education opportunities. This pilot would act as a test of interest and participation, with a longer term view to see whether the placement could be a formal part of the new BSc Midwifery Course that would be revalidated in June 2021. 

Activity:

This placement is a collaborative piece of work between LSBU’s Student Enterprise Team and the Midwifery Division (Head of Midwifery and lecturers) at LSBU. The Student Enterprise Team lead on the design and delivery of the programme, supported by the Head of Midwifery. External speakers and facilitators from our collective networks are bought in to facilitate talks and workshops. This collaborative approach is essential to the delivery and positive outcomes of the placement. 

Placement Planning and delivery:

1. Promotion of the opportunity to students; the placement was promoted to students at their 3^rd year conference (in November). Lecturers also speak to students about the opportunity, in lectures and through email communication. Details are also uploaded onto Moodle.   An online “Express your interest” form is created (using Google Forms); This allows the Student Enterprise Team to collate interest, ascertain student’s aspirations/aims and to begin to communicate more detailed information about the placement to students.

2. Planning the placement; The programme (see resources section below for an example) is planned. External speakers are secured and resources; slides decks, Business Model Canvas workshop, Personal Model Canvas and EntreComp workshops are all prepared. A great deal of the content creation uses Vygotsky’s, Mind in Society (1978) Scaffold Learning Theory, supporting students to work together and build confidence in the tools they are using so application becomes easier. There is a significant amount of time in the programme for students to begin to apply, share and reflect on their learning, all helping them to plan for future action. The 4 days are intentionally planned over 2 weeks, we have found from feedback that this aids the students’ consolidation of learning and assists them to begin to take action. 
3. Pre placement information and communication; confirmation of places is sent (via email) to all students that complete the express you interest form, they are asked to confirm whether they are taking up the place or not. Those that confirm are emailed again with specific details and with the final programme, allowing them to plan their other commitments and time around this. 
4. Delivery of the placement; The placement has been delivered both in person and online (due to Covid 19). Both formats have advantages and disadvantages. For example, online eliminates the logistics and time needed for students and speakers to travel to campus, making the placement more accessible, with 100% attendance throughout. In person, allows for easier group work and deeper learning between peers. 
5. Evaluation and post communication; An online evaluation form is created using Google Forms. This has a significant emphasis on students feeding back on the enterprise skills and competencies they feel they have developed/improved as a result of the placement. The EntreComp Framework guides the creation of the evaluation form. Students complete this at the end of day 4 to assist with completion rates. Students also receive a Certificate of Participation and Completion.

Impact:

• Students engaged in a programme of activities designed to build their confidence, reflect on and build their enterprise skills and develop an entrepreneurial mindset. 13 students have taken part, with 100% rating the placement as good or excellent and 100% saying they would recommend the placement to other midwifery students.  

•  Student quotes: 

“An amazing opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on entrepreneurship, confidence building and believing in myself and my dreams”.

“The one to one sessions were very useful, I found it a great opportunity to reflect on the activities, check my understanding and discuss how I can apply them to my idea”

“I have had a very interesting placement. Visiting City Library and taking part in the workshop “Networking what works and what doesn't”, were particularly good. The one to one sessions were fantastic as it gave me opportunity to reflect on previous days learning. I have met some wonderful Entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas and have taken away things which will be really beneficial in my Midwifery practice”.

• Two case studies have been created to demonstrate the positive impact of the placement. These are used to help promote the placement and to connect with interested final year students; 

https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/stories/kathryn-mckenna-student-midwifery

https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/stories/anna-mary-oyet-student-midwifery 

• Following the initial pilot the Midwifery Division worked with myself and colleagues to embed enterprise education in the validation of their new course. This included mapping EntreComp Competencies against NMC (National Midwifery Council) standards. Our team now delivers enterprise education in “Developing Competent Midwifery Practice” and “Leading and Promoting Excellence” modules and a new Midwifery Certificate in Enterprise has started this academic year.  

• Feedback from last year’s participants has informed my decision to include content that reflects delivering socially focussed midwifery projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Resources:

• Workshop and session materials e.g Slide decks, business model canvases, interactive activities for individuals and group work, briefing and Q&A prep with speakers. 
• Google forms- “express your interest form” and evaluation form.
• The programme changes each time, depending on student feedback, needs and availability of speakers/workshops. 

Below is an example programme 

References:

Business Model Canvas- 

Osterwalder, Alexander et al. "The business model ontology: A proposition in a design science approach." (2004).

Osterwalder, Alexander, and Yves Pigneur. Business Model Generation: A Handbook For Visionaries, Game Changers, And Challengers. Wiley, 2010. https://www.strategyzer.com/canvas/business-model-canvas

EntreComp Framework-  McCallum, Weicht, McMullan and Price (2018) EntreComp into Action – Get inspired, make it happen: A user guide to the European Entrepreneurship Competence Framework (Editors: Bacigalupo, M and O’Keefe, W) http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC109128

Eventbrite – this is used to source relevant local online/in person workshops that are taking place during the placement e.g City Business Library workshops.

Scaffold Learning Theory- Vygotsky,L.S. (1978) Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes (London: Harvard University Press)