To remain competitive in the global economy, Australia needs graduates who are well prepared to succeed in their chosen careers.
They must possess adaptable, flexible, technical, transferable, and career-ready skills they can apply to practical work situations.
As universities work to provide students with practical and hands-on learning opportunities, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs have become an integral part of the curriculum.
However, managing these programs can be complex, costly and time-consuming which is why partnering with experts in the field who understand the challenges that universities face is key to long term success.
That’s why we have compiled this article.
It outlines our ten key recommendations, from scoping the program, to partnering with industry experts. It provides actionable insights that will ultimately help universities improve their WIL programs and better prepare their students for the workforce of tomorrow.
1. Thoroughly scope the program
Work integrated learning experiences work best when strong alignment exists between the needs of a university’s academia, industry partners, and
students.
By understanding each stakeholders needs, you’ll be closer to ensuring it’s a
positive and productive experience for everyone.
Start by thinking about it the perspective of each stakeholder:
Students seek an opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a practical setting and gain insights into their future careers.
Universities seek an opportunity to enrich the student learning within a real-world context.
Industry Partners seek the opportunity to observe and work with potential new employees.
If the WIL program lacks comprehensive scoping and fails to address stakeholder requirements, it may lead to unfavourable outcomes, causing reputational risk, elevated administrative tasks and increased stressors for all.
2. Actively prepare students
The success of WIL experiences is highly dependent on the preparation of the student prior to starting their work placement.
Here are some reasons why student preparation for WIL experiences is crucial:
Increased confidence: Students who are well prepared, are more likely to feel
confident and comfortable in their new work environment.
Improves workplace readiness: Proper preparation can help students develop essentials skills which are vital for the workplace.
Mitigate the risks: Poorly prepared students are more likely to make
mistakes, cause accidents, or act inappropriately in the workplace. Adequate preparation can mitigate these risks and help students
avoid such incidents.
Student preparation is critical for success. Students need to be provided access to training, resources and 1:1 human support to help them succeed in their WIL experience.
3. Find the right industry partner
Finding the right industry partner is crucial for the success of a WIL experience. Here are some reasons why:
Relevant work experience: With the right employer, students can gain relevant work experience in their chosen field, developing necessary industry-specific skills and knowledge for future careers.
Networking opportunities: Joining the right employer can provide students with valuable networking opportunities, meeting industry professionals and developing relationships that may be invaluable in future job searches.
Career exploration & skill development: Employers who provide students with a diverse range of opportunities within their organisation enable them to develop new skills and explore different career paths. This helps students discover opportunities that align with their interests and goals, making informed decisions about their future career.
When universities prioritise matching the needs of the employer to the interests and goals of their students it can lead to a more positive and valuable experience for both parties.
4. Match the right student to the right industry partner
Matching the right student to the right employer for Work-Integrated learning (WIL) experience is crucial for the success of the program. Here are some reasons why:
Increases the learning opportunity: Matching a student with an employer aligned with their career goals and interests increases their likelihood of having a positive and engaging learning experience, leading to more opportunities for learning, skill development, and career exploration.
Improves student engagement: Matching students with employers who share values and goals improves their engagement and motivation to learn, leading to increased participation, enthusiasm, and an enhanced overall learning experience.
Enhances employability prospects: Matching a student with a relevant employer provides an opportunity to gain industry-specific skills and knowledge, enhancing their employability prospects and increasing their chances of finding a job after graduation.
Ensuring a positive match between the student and employer reduces the risks of negative experiences such as poor performance, poor fit, or workplace conflict. This results in positive experiences and outcomes for both the student and the employer.
5. Support the student throughout
Delivering a successful WIL student experience is contingent on having a highly supportive plan as they navigate their way through the WIL experience.
Here are some reasons why students need to be supported from beginning to end:
A new experience: Students are often placed in unfamiliar environments where they may be unsure of what is expected of them.
A balancing act: Balancing academic work with their work placement can be challenging, stressful and overwhelming, particularly for students who are new to the workforce.
Risky business: Students may encounter difficult situations during their WIL experience, such as conflicts with colleagues or ethical dilemmas.
Big impact: Provide guidance and mentorship throughout the experience can help students to set goals, track their progress, and reflect more deeply on their learning.
Supporting students during their WIL experience helps students develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to succeed in their chosen careers. Access to guidance and support helps students navigate challenges and learn from them, rather than becoming discouraged.
6. Measure student progress
Feedback and evaluations are critical components of a successful WIL experience. Here is how they contribute to the success of WIL programs.
Feedback: Formal and informal feedback is crucial for learning. Students need it to understand their performance and improve, while employers need it to support their employees. Regular feedback helps everyone stay on track and meet learning and performance goals.
Evaluations: Evaluations assess the WIL program’s effectiveness from various perspectives and identify areas for improvement. They inform decisions about program enhancements, such as adjusting the curriculum or providing additional resources.
When there is limited or no regular feedback loops or evaluation during a WIL experience, it can lead to poor communication and understanding between the student, employer, and university.
This can result in missed opportunities for learning and growth, as well as potential misunderstandings and conflicts.
Without regular feedback and evaluation, it can be difficult to assess the effectiveness of the WIL program and make informed decisions about program enhancements.
Overall, regular feedback and evaluations are crucial for ensuring a positive and productive WIL experience for all parties involved.
7. Identify employability skill attainment
WIL experiences offer hands-on learning, developing skills that are highly valued by employers.
These skills range from technical knowledge to human and transferrable skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. Identifying and measuring skill attainment during WIL is crucial for assessing employability uplift. Here’s why it’s important…
For Students
- Helps students to better articulate their value to potential employers and apply this knowledge to resume development, job applications and interviews.
- Helps students to develop a strong professional identity. As students gain hands-on experience and develop new skills, they can begin to see themselves as professionals in their chosen field.
For Universities
Monitoring employability skill attainment in WIL initiatives helps universities make informed decisions about potential changes to the program, ultimately improving students’ preparation for the workforce.
For Employers
With a clear understanding of skills obtained, employers can identify suitable candidates for job vacancies.
Identifying employability skills developed during work-integrated learning experiences helps universities evaluate program effectiveness and employers find suitable candidates. Additionally, it empowers students to develop a strong professional identity and articulate their value, boosting their confidence and sense of purpose during the transition into the workforce.
8. Understand Actionable Insights
Data drawn from regular feedback and evaluations can help universities to make data-driven decisions that improve the program’s effectiveness.
In the context of a WIL experience, actionable insights can be used to identify:
Where students are:
- Struggling and where additional support may be needed
- Excelling, and deserve recognition and positive reinforcement for their
achievements - Improving their understanding of the work environment
- Increasing their employability skills
For universities, actionable insights can be used to:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of WIL programs
- Identify areas where the program is succeeding and areas where improvements are needed.
- Gain deeper understanding of what employers are looking for and what is happening in the real-world.
Data can be used to identify areas where improvements are needed, recognise where students are excelling, and make data-driven decisions that improve the program’s effectiveness. By taking meaningful action based on data, universities can better meet the needs of students and employers and prepare students for successful careers in their chosen field.
9. Bring the experience to life with Simulations
Industry informed simulations can develop and measure a range of employability skills before, during or at the end of a WIL experience.
Here are some examples of the employability-based skills that can be developed through simulation-based learning:
Problem-solving skills: Simulations let students apply problem-solving skills to real scenarios, fostering creative and effective solutions.
Decision-making skills: Simulations develop strong decision-making skills, as students must make choices under pressure and weigh different options through data analysis, fostering effective solutions.
Communication skills: Simulations with role-playing or collaborative problem-solving help develop student communication skills, including active listening, feedback, and effective communication.
Adaptability and resilience: Simulations foster adaptability and resilience by exposing students to unpredictable and challenging scenarios, allowing them to develop the necessary skills to thrive in a dynamic work environment.
Time-management skills: Simulations develop time-management skills as students learn to prioritize tasks, manage workloads, and meet deadlines under time constraints.
Simulations can be a valuable tool for developing and assessing a wide range of employability skills before during and after a WIL experience.
10. Partner with an expert
Managing Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences can be a complex and time-consuming process, and requires broad expertise.
This includes scoping the program, preparing students, finding the right employer, matching the right student to the right employer, supporting students throughout the experience, measuring student progress, identifying employability skills, and understanding actionable insights.
Partnering with WIL management experts will deliver best practice experiences that are of high quality and produce positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
Experts can provide valuable insights into the data collected during the program, helping institutions to make data-driven decisions that improve the program’s effectiveness. This can help ensure that the program meets the needs of students and employers and delivers value to all stakeholders.
With the help of WIL management experts, the WIL experience can be effective, valuable, and prepare students for successful careers in their chosen field.
We’re here to help.
Are you looking to take your university’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs to the next level?
Our team of experienced professionals have a proven track record of successfully managing WIL programs for universities and colleges across the country.
We understand the unique challenges that universities face in designing, implementing, and evaluating effective WIL programs, and we have the expertise to overcome them.
We can help you to streamline your WIL program by providing end-to-end management services, including student placement, employer engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and ongoing support. Our approach is tailored to your university’s specific needs, ensuring that your WIL program aligns with your institution’s strategic goals, vision, and values.
We offer a range of innovative solutions to enhance the quality and effectiveness of your WIL program, including the latest in technology-enabled learning, customised training and development programs, and engaging communication strategies.
Partnering with us means you can focus on what you do best – educating and empowering your students to achieve their career goals.
Get in touch
If you are interested in partnering with us to help develop the next generation of career-ready graduates, we would love to hear from you
