The purpose of this study was to describe the extent to which students with intellectual disability participate in work-based learning experiences and determine whether student characteristics (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, grade level, and support needs) relate to student participation in these activities. An online questionnaire was emailed to…

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences, integral for equipping students with the skills and knowledge crucial for employment and success in their chosen careers, have traditionally been associated with accreditation requirements in professional programs. More recently, acknowledging the importance of WIL experiences in non-professional…

This study was conducted to determine if there is a difference in learning between a required career preparation course without a client-based project (Class A) and one with a client-based project (Class B). Members of each course took a pre and post survey where they answered 59 items from Caballero et al.'s (2011) Workplace Readiness Scale…

The underlining purpose of all career and technical education (CTE) strives to prepare students for the world of work. Schools throughout the country offer CTE programs, yet manufacturing, healthcare, and STEM industries struggle to fill entry-level employment vacancies. This exploratory narrative qualitative study aimed to explore the stories of…

This research seeks to define and understand the experience of adult learners in the Experiential Learning (EXL) Program at MTSU. It looks at how this EXL program prepares these students for the workforce. This has made the role of EXL programs imperative to help deal with the issue of graduates having the proper competency levels for employment.…

An important part of STEM education is students' acquisition of knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for career success, all of which emerge from a combination of classroom and co-curricular activities. Work-related experiential activities (WREAs) offer the opportunity for students to engage in experiential activities before degree completion,…

As postsecondary programs grow for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (SwIDD), there is an increased focus on program evaluation and effectiveness, specifically related to impact on employment outcomes. Ohio's Statewide Consortium (OSC) of postsecondary programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental…

Many academic programs often require work integrated learning (WIL) in the form of internships, fieldwork, and practicums. As a method of preparing students for entry level employment, WIL experiences have been found to be beneficial by the student, employer, and advisors. However, researchers and academics commonly cite the need for additional…

Research supervisors and their higher degree research (HDR) candidates -- including Master, Professional Doctorate, and PhD candidates -- make critical contributions to research and innovation. In addition to providing research training, research supervisors have traditionally also acted as the graduate employability practitioner for their HDR…

'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…

Despite being a key competency sought by employers, many college students do not exhibit career readiness upon graduation. Reverse mentoring between students (mentors) and company employees (mentees) is an innovative applied learning experience that helps students gain important job knowledge beyond what is taught in a traditional classroom…

This paper aims to understand the marketing workplace soft skills gap and address the possibility of closing that gap through the implementation of a student-run marketing agency at institutions of higher learning. A 2016 report from Payscale.com suggests that employers feel like new graduates lack the ability to think critically, to work in…

Purpose: Work-study programmes aim to support young adults transitioning from tertiary education to work and contribute to enhancing their employability. The purpose of this study is to provide a detailed analysis of the learning experiences of trainees in work-study programmes within the broad field of engineering. Design/methodology/approach:…

This study explores perceived skill outcomes among graduates of 39 Australian higher education institutions in the short- to medium-term after course completion. While acknowledging important dimensions of graduate employability beyond the skills-based approach, we investigated graduate perspectives on their industry-relevant skill outcomes from…

Tuition-free college programs are gaining momentum as policymakers address rising college costs and workforce readiness. Despite their growing adoption, limited research examines how workforce-focused eligibility criteria impact student outcomes beyond enrollment. This pre-registered study employs two within-study quasi-experimental…