Understanding and exploring the placement experience of students from the Global South

‘Understanding and exploring the placement experience of students from the Global South’ is a qualitative research project funded by the HEART (Healthcare and Education Anti-Racist Transformers) at the University of Winchester. The HEART initiative supports racially minoritised students both in university and on placements.

The research will aim to understand what factors or perceptions influence the experiences of students from racially minoritised heritages on practice placements in physiotherapy, teacher education, social work and nursing. The main source of data is in-depth interviews conducted by Winchester University students with other students on the listed degree programmes. The information from all the interviews will be analysed to draw out similarities and differences in students’ experiences and the factors that support or inhibit a fulfilling and successful placement. It is hoped that the research will identify lessons for how placement support to students from racially minoritised heritages could be improved.

The student researchers will be involved in all aspects of the project from initial research design and development of an interview discussion guide to data analysis and presentation of the main findings. Appropriate training and support will be provided by the three academic staff leading the research.