Where there is a WIL there is a way

Abstract

While work‐integrated learning (WIL) is seen as a way to address the call for improved ‘employment readiness’ and generic skills of graduates, it has been stated that WIL programs need to be ‘well managed and structured’ and ‘well integrated’. To provide such structure and integration a Professional Development (PD) Program was developed to assist students who would undertake a WIL internship as part of their business degree. This paper details evidence of the impact of the PD Program for first year students compared to those undertaking a conventional orientation process. The preliminary evidence demonstrate that structure and integration of the PD Program has had positive effects in terms of generic skills, satisfaction and self‐efficacy.