The Penny Drops: Can Work Integrated Learning Improve Students' Learning?

Abstract

The need to develop work ready graduates who can transfer the knowledge and skills from the lecture theatre to the workplace has become a key issue in higher education in Australia. In this regard, there has been a growing interest in work integrated learning (WIL) projects and its potential impact on student development. Discussed within this article are findings in relation to a WIL experiment in the form of a student-industry conference that is integrated into the assessment of a number of courses. Of particular interest is the impact the conference had on student learning, motivation and confidence. The student-industry conference brought students, academics and industry representatives together. The authentic conference approach was found to engage industry in the assessment process and this had a positive impact on student learning and student motivation.