69211 Earning-to-learning White paper JA photo 14.8.17.pdf (2.54 MB)
Earn-to-Learn (EtoL) How students can combine earning with learning through flexible business process sourcing: a proposition
journal contribution
posted on 2018-02-08, 09:18 authored by Ian HerbertThe emergence of new organizational models such as the shared services centre model (SSC)
and business process outsourcing (BPO) have been fundamental in facilitating the transformation
of the way in which many middle-office roles are undertaken. Yet, the assumption that such work
should remain onshore is increasingly challenged by developments in the new global, digital,
knowledge-based economy in which the commercial imperative is to simplify, standardise and
commoditise professional tasks such that they can be relocated to the cheapest location. Even in
the new upcoming locations, robotic process automation is displacing the more routine and
repetitive tasks. In high-cost locations such as the UK this presents a serious challenge for
a significant section of the working population: not least for young people who depend on the
availability of training roles in professional functions such as finance, HR, IT and procurement,
to start their lifetime career pathway.
This report proposes a flexible business process sourcing solution, called ‘Earn-to Learn’ (EtoL).
The concept is rooted in a relationship between industry, higher education institutions (HEIs) and
government. The aims are to enable:
• students to access higher education programmes and engage in good quality paid, work
experience across their degree programmes;
• employers to access a new skilled and flexible labour force, and
• universities to improve social inclusion and create a sustainable supply of ‘work-ready’ and
employable graduates.
