Invisible boundaries, visible impact: the role of psychological safety in dual learning environments

Purpose Degree apprenticeships offer a unique opportunity for knowledge transfer that can lead to positive changes for both the apprentice and their organisation. This study investigates the experiences of apprentices who report that apprenticeships have had a positive impact on their thinking, personal lives or organisation. Design/methodology/approach The data for the study were gathered by using focus groups with apprentices who have participated in a degree apprenticeship programme and who agreed with the statement that they have experienced a transformational change in their thinking, career and personal life that they attribute to participating in a degree apprenticeship programme. Findings The findings from this research suggest that experiences related to this positive change were often interconnected and that psychological safety was a central factor that allowed individuals to excel in acquiring knowledge and applying that to their organisations. Importantly, when this psychological safety was both in the academic learning environment and the workplace, this provided a mechanism for apprentices to acquire and integrate these into their organisations for impact. Research limitations/implications This research was conducted with a small sample size which, although limits generalisability, does bring attention to the important role of psychological safety in the apprentices’ experiences. Practical implications This work suggests that a dual focus on psychological safety in both the academic and work environments can have a profound impact on the transformational change experienced by apprentices in degree apprenticeship programmes. This, in turn, can lead to more impactful knowledge transfer, positive individual development, and increased contributions to organisational goals. Originality/value This study provides nuanced insights into how personal, professional and organisational growth is interconnected and heavily influenced by psychological safety, particularly when there are multiple sites of learning involved in making changes. Highlighting the importance of psychological safety in both academic and workplace settings, it brings attention to the important role it has in maximising the impact of degree apprenticeships.