Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

What is WIL at the University of Newcastle?

Work-integrated learning is the term used to describe educational activities that integrate theoretical learning with its application in a workplace, profession, career or future employment. WIL should be available for all undergraduate students, should provide a meaningful and relevant experience, and should be recognised through assessment and credit.  The WIL experience can be off or on campus, real or simulated, depending on the discipline area, but must involve clearly stated outcomes, assessment and be consistent with quality teaching and learning.

Examples of WIL in Australian Universities

Other activities / terms include: employment-based training and education, whole of life learning, work-based education, cooperative education, practice-based learning, sandwich education, career transition and so on. WIL is seen as occurring in a workplace, in the community, within the university, and real or simulated, as long as the experience is authentic, relevant and meaningfully assessed / evaluated.

Benefits of WIL

WIL has become a key feature of making our students "work-ready".

Students gain:

• An opportunity to put theory into practice;
• An awareness of work-place culture and expectations;
• Transferable skills such as initiative, communication, team working, punctuality, leadership, self confidence and interpersonal relationships, and;
• An opportunity to develop career strategies, business opportunities and a network of contacts.

Staff gain:

• More knowledgeable, hands on and enthusiastic students;
• Higher student retention rates;
• Networks and relationships with a wider range of employers and colleagues;
• Resources to ensure that their industry-related teaching is up-to-date;
• Links to new and innovative research opportunities with practical applications, and;
• Increased responsiveness to local/community needs and changes.

Employers/Industry and the University gain:

• Access to a pool of potential recruits with exposure to their core values;
• More work ready graduates within the industry;
• A closer relationship with the University and the sharing of new ideas;
• Additional resources to aid in business projects; and,
• Enthusiastic and innovative students who bring new technologies, perspectives and ideas to the workplace.

WIL at the University of Newcastle

The University's Strategic Plan Building Distinction 2007-2011 refers to WIL as 'work-based experiential learning' (WBEL). This type of learning is an important component of the way in which the University of Newcastle is building distinction through performance improvement, institutional capability and a better fit to local and regional community, industry, business and professions. The intention of reviewing current practices and future options for WIL is to provide a context for undergraduate students where participation in WIL is made desirable and easily available. The enhancement and extension of work integrated learning is part of the strategy for improving the quality of teaching at the University.

The first goal is to incorporate an "opportunity for work-based, experiential learning opportunities into all undergraduate programs so that our graduates are flexible and ready for the workplace". Success towards this goal will be measured by the percentage of undergraduate programs including work-based experiential learning opportunities, with a target of 70% of undergraduate programs to include WBEL by 2011.

Complementary Activities at the University of Newcastle:

• Careers Service Intern Scheme
• Cross-Faculty Courses
• Engaged Research
• International Leadership Program – iLEAD
• International Post-Graduate Employment Pilot Project
• Student, Community and Leadership Program
• Students in Free Enterprise
• Student Mentor Program
• Volunteer Program

Further Details

The findings of the WIL Working Group can be found in the committee paper: Work Integrated Learning Working group; Committee Paper December 2008