Work Integrated Learning
In-Class and Out of Class Experiential Learning Opportunities for Students
Work-integrated learning is a form of curricular experiential education that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with quality experiences within a workplace or practice setting. WIL experiences include an engaged partnership of at least: an academic institution, a host organization, and a student. WIL can occur at the course or program level and includes the development of student learning objectives and outcomes related to: employability, agency, knowledge and skill mobility and life-long learning. (CEWIL Canada)
Overview of WIL
Work integrated learning is a concept of education that establishes real-world experiences in the work environment that correlate directly to a course from which students expect to be employed from.
The process of work-integrated-learning can include any number of different experiences, paid or unpaid, mandatory or non-mandatory participation. Work integrated learning will not apply to every program that is offered at an institution. Instead, these opportunities are typically pursued for programs that prepare students for employment in a specific work environment or sector of industry. Examples of programs would typically include health care, trades, business, tourism and hospitality.
In addition, work-integrated learning can sometimes also expand out to areas such as applied research and entrepreneurial experiences.
Video: What is Work-Integrated Learning (NIC Business Co-op) — 2 minutes
Benefits for Student Learning
Work integrated learning assists students in contextualizing the information and concepts from class, into a realistic occupational setting. This practice connects theory to practice in a way that is impossible to accomplish genuinely within the walls of a classroom.
Through these experiences, students create connections and relationships that help to further shape their understanding of knowledge, skills, and expectations. Through engaged work experiences, students can often find themselves in the enviable place of having established connections within companies that aid them in acquiring employment after their education is complete.
Finally, students who participate in work experience meet and communicate with new experts beyond their instructors. These valuable connections build a robust community of knowledge that, along with their course instructors, can better prepare them for the highlights and realities of working in their chosen field.
Video: What Work Integrated Learning Can Do For You? (ACE-WIL BC/Yukon) — 2:20 minutes
Value for NIC
Making connections with local industry establishes cooperative relationships for the college and programming area. Companies often appreciate the opportunity to give back to the community through educational initiatives that help to strengthen their industry and interest in the sector. These can broaden and open new opportunities relating to guest speakers, equipment donations or even new faculty members for a program. The employment of graduates is always an important consideration for college programming.
Work-integrated learning helps to strengthen the number of students acquiring employment, while also connecting faculty with opportunities to learn current practices and standards that often take time for the education sector to adopt.
Components of WIL
There are many ways work integrated learning can be deployed within a program or course or class. Before getting into the below list, it is important to understand that not every activity may be realistic to deploy in your specific programming area. On the other hand, some program areas are required to engage with one or more of the below activities due to the structuring of credential recognition through an outside agency.
NB: Terms and descriptions are fluid in this area. What is called one name at one institution does not necessarily share the same name at another. Don’t be surprised if you find alternative definitions elsewhere if conducting further reading on these practices.
1. Mandatory Professional Practice: This involves work experience under the supervision of a registered or licensed professional that requires practice-based work experience for certification.
2. Community Learning:
- Community Service Learning: This combines purposeful community service, classroom teachings and critical reflection in partnership with community-based organizations.
- Field Placements: These are typically part-time and short-term intensive, practical experiences in a setting related to a student’s program of study.
- Work Experience: This is typically full-time and provides students experience in a workplace related to their program of study.
3. Work-Integrated Learning:
- Community Service Learning: This combines purposeful community service, classroom teachings and critical reflection in partnership with community-based organizations.
- Field Placements: These are typically part-time and short-term intensive, practical experiences in a setting related to a student’s program of study.
- Work Experience: This is typically full-time and provides students experience in a workplace related to their program of study.
4. Internships: These provide a part-time job usually intended for college students and recent graduates of a program. Internships are beneficial for individuals who are uncertain of their chosen career path.
5. Cooperative education (Co-op): These provide a structured program that combines classroom learning with paid, practical work experience, often extending over multiple semesters.
6. Apprenticeships: These are usually the standard means of acquiring experience in vocational-type careers. Individuals enter into an agreement called “indenturing” which permits them to work within the chosen field under the supervision of a professional. Students then go to full-time training once a year for 8–12 weeks for 3–4 years depending on the occupation.
7. Applied Research Projects: Working on a research project in partnership with community organizations or industry can be a rich learning experience.
8. Other opportunities: There are many ways to engage with industry, business or companies without a formal plan or connection to a program. Field trips, guest speakers and invite Q&A can be an excellent way for students to gain valuable insights into different possible career paths.
Preparing Your Students
When applying any type of work integrated learning, it is important to ensure students are aware of the opportunities these experiences can provide. Students may make valuable connections in the field or discipline they are aspiring to. Students may receive a job offer. Students may even determine this is not the path for them. Students may be able to ask targeted questions that otherwise would be impossible if on the “outside” of the organization.
These value-added aspects of a work experience opportunity may be lost on students if an instructor does not take the time to bring them to the class’s attention BEFORE they leave. Remind the students, just because a work-experience may be unpaid, it does not mean the experience is not worthy.
Examples in Action
North Island College has a rich history of work-integrated learning through the efforts of Career Services and Work Integrated Learning student supports — webpage.
Video: 4 Work Integrated Learning and Case Studies (2:30 minutes)
Getting Started
With so many different ways of integrating the world of work into a program or course, there is likely something that could work for most decanal areas. Even if teaching courses that are academic in nature, there are likely options to bring individuals in to discuss why this particular topic or practice is important for their future career regardless of what it is.
If considering a more engaging co-op, internship or work experience, this will require further consideration to the program learning objectives, timeframe and mission of the department. Meet with other faculty members, the Associate Dean, the Dean, see what may be possible to broaden the learning experiences of your students.