Work-integrated learning (WIL), as an educational approach, is facilitated through relationships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and external 'host' organizations. Responsible host organizations should recognize that students undertaking WIL come from a range of different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, and have varying…

This article explores ways that the field of rhetoric and writing studies can benefit from intentional engagement with work-integrated learning (WIL) research and pedagogy in the context of transfer research. Specifically, the article discusses: (1) "redesigning" writing internship pedagogies to align with WIL learning and curriculum…

'Continuous meritocracy' was introduced in Singapore to redefine the concepts of talent and ability in Singapore society. This expanded meaning of meritocracy serves as another way to further support the SkillsFuture Singapore movement (Skillsfuture Singapore, 2023b), which was launched in 2016. 'Continuous meritocracy' complements Work-Integrated…

In order to prepare students for their future professional life, research has shifted from a skills-based approach to one that centres on their socio-cultural resources. In particular, how they evaluate their 'social and cultural capital', in relation to their developing professional identities, and how this can be facilitated through…

Some students learn better if they can apply skills and knowledge to their lives. Youth apprenticeships are a way for students to work and gain skills in a chosen career field and earn money while still in high school. Youth apprenticeships are on a continuum of work-based learning that includes job shadowing and internships. Apprenticeships…

This essay analyses the implementation of a work-based learning policy in upper secondary schools in Italy. The policy aims to improve student orientation and enhance their soft skills. Based on two ethnographic research studies in Italy, this essay utilises Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical framework, particularly the 'field' concept, to examine how…

School-based education can be a context of adversity for some youth. Research has identified the value of work-based education in serving as a context of resilience to support individual-level factors including agency and autonomy, but researchers are increasingly highlighting the need for examining the influence of contextual factors. In this…

There is an increasing focus on enhancing employability for students in higher education. Yet academics who facilitate and encourage opportunities to support student employability are often doing so with a quiet agility. This paper reflects on my first year coordinating a work-integrated learning program and the development of skills necessary for…

This book examines the tide of change facing higher education as it grapples with providing a more relevant and demonstrated value for its graduates entering the workplace. Based on their experience with the Business in Practice program they created, the authors share the rationale and practical approaches colleges and universities need to…

Work-integrated Learning (WIL) is renowned for providing a "bridge" between 'theory' and 'practice' that fosters 'employable graduates'. This study critically argues that the WIL discourse continues to ascribe a dualistic meaning to "graduate employability" that primarily contributes to creating the so-called…

Presented here is a novel engineering degree initiative established at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Australia. This program embodies emerging trends and prospects in engineering education, aspiring to nurture adept engineers well-prepared for practical application. Furthermore, this paper delves into the application of this program for training…

The financial planning profession has undergone significant change in recent years, where the focus has shifted from disclosure and consumer protection, to quality and education requirements. In Australia, there has been an increasing focus on the role that work-integrated learning (WIL) can play in financial planning education and preparing…

Work-based learning programs in the United States are designed to prepare adolescents for their first jobs and to develop the soft skills to be successful in in the classroom or the workplace. Historically these programs have neglected how work, education, and training in the local context are connected to issues on national and international…

This paper discusses changes taking place in the delivery of work-integrated learning (WIL) in a Faculty of Maori and Indigenous Development in Auckland, New Zealand. WIL in the faculty utilized a model adopted from a business school which did not recognize key aspects of the students' lives and expectations, in particular the strong connection…

This article highlights the disparities between socially advantaged students and those who identify as equity-deserving while accessing work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities. While governmental investments have aimed to broaden WIL access, persistent inequities have emphasized the need for a critical examination of oppressive systems within…