2025/10/02 by Daša Bombjaková · 2 voices
Social Sciences · Health Professions · #Anthropology: Ethics, History, Culture #Higher Education and Employability #Doctoral Education Challenges and Solutions
paper · doi:10.1080/08884552.2025.2577987
openalex publication_date 2025/10/02 · openalex created_date 2025/11/18 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/14
Most social anthropology graduates work outside academia, yet traditional curricula focus primarily on academic training. To prepare students for diverse career paths, we integrated a flexible work experience program into the curriculum. This initiative combines hands-on experience with reflective exercises, allowing students to gain relevant skills while critically assessing their professional development. Since the 2022/2023 academic year, students have had the opportunity to complete their work experience through partnerships with various organizations, propose new placements, or justify their current employment as relevant to their training. The program also emphasizes career-building skills, including resume preparation, professional communication, and understanding workplace regulations. While initially met with resistance, student engagement has increased as participants recognize the program’s value in transitioning from academic studies to employment. Challenges include maintaining relationships with partner organizations and ensuring students understand the relevance of work experience to their anthropological training. Future goals include strengthening partnerships to facilitate employment opportunities, expanding career support for non-academic paths, and refining the program based on student and employer feedback. By integrating work experience into the curriculum, this initiative bridges academic learning and professional application, equipping social anthropology students with essential skills for a variety of careers.