In view of the increasing emphasis on work experience in higher education (HE), a research project was undertaken to identify and compare current practices in the area of work-based learning in undergraduate programs. The study, which focused primarily on work experience in the United Kingdom, involved a literature review and site visits and telephone interview during which input was obtained from representatives of the following: HE institutions, student employment bureaus, training and enterprise councils, employer organizations, work experience brokers, student associations, and national voluntary agencies. Special attention was paid to the following topics: learning and work experience; embedded work experience; project-linked work experience; and term-time, part-time, and vacation work. It was discovered that, despite the important benefits of work experience to employers, students, and HE academic staff, expansion of such programs is being impeded by three categories of barriers: lack of resources, organization barriers, and discrepancies between supply and demand. Specific actions that employers, students, HE staff, HE institutions, broker agencies, and the government can take to overcome barriers were identified. (The report contains 87 references. Appended are discussions of varieties of work experience and the organizational approach and work experience and a list of contributors.) (MN)