The Workplace Impact of Concurrent Employment and Study through Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships

Abstract

This paper explores how Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars who continue working during their studies apply the knowledge and skills that they acquire from their distance learning courses in their workplaces and demonstrates the impact of distance learning for students who continue to work, both on themselves and their workplaces. It draws upon data that has been collected though an annual survey of Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars from the second year of their studies onwards, as well as a bespoke survey that was sent to Employers of current Scholars in 2021 to collect their views on how the Scholarship has affected both their employee’s own work, and their workplace more broadly. It demonstrates that these Scholars not only realise significant changes to their knowledge and skills, but that they also apply this knowledge and skills in their workplaces. This is done both through their own work but also by passing their learning on to others and making changes to their workplaces.