University-Business Cooperation and Work-Related Learning in Higher Education: students’ perspectives.

The study is placed within the framework of University-Business Cooperation and the enhancement of Work-Related Teaching and Learning Methods with the aim to explore teachers’ and students’ perspectives about WR activities/programs and identify key-elements for supporting and improving WR methods design and implementation in Higher Education. A two phases research design has been chosen as suitable methodology for an in-depth understanding of the issue. During the first phase, a multiple case studies research design was followed to collect teachers’ perspectives, involving teachers from 3 Italian Universities (Padua, Siena, and Florence) and referring to a range of academic disciplines (Education, Chemical and Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology). During the second phase - in progress – 3 focus groups will be leaded with students who took part in the selected WR activities/programs.