scholarly journals Embedding graduate employability attributes in management sciences curricula: A case of two Namibian universities

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romanus Shivoro ◽  
Rakel Kavena Shalyefu ◽  
Ngepathimo Kadhila
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Learning Modules ◽  
Graduate Attributes ◽  
Core Curricula ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
Core Module ◽  
Work Integrated Learning ◽  
Program Modules

Recognising implicit employability attributes within discipline-specific program modules is a critical part of the process of developing new employability modules in the management sciences curricula. The notion of graduate employability has gained acceptance in the higher education sector across the world and furthermore higher education and industry appear to have reached consensus on the importance of enhancing graduate attributes through the curricula at university. This paper offers a qualitative analysis of curricula documents to determine strategies that are effective in enhancing graduate employability. Using content analysis to assess six bachelor degree programs in management sciences from selected universities in Namibia, the study established that, in addition to work-integrated learning modules, there is evidence of graduate employability attributes being implicitly embedded in core curricula and discipline-specific modules. The researchers argue that universities should develop a stand-alone core module specifically to cultivate employability attributes. This should be supported by multiple work-integrated learning experiences for students to practise technical or discipline specific skills and generic employability attributes.

scholarly journals Work Integrated Learning at Tertiary Level to Enhance Graduate Employability in Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Faieza Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Developed Country ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
Higher Education Quality ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Government ◽  
Work Integrated Learning

In the last few years, higher education institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh have been under severe pressure to transform the way they operate. The present Government of Bangladesh requires all universities to improve their quality of education and has implemented various projects such as Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) in collaboration with the World Bank. As Bangladesh has set a target to transition out of the status of Least Developed Country (LDC) to Developing country by 2024, graduate employability and education quality are pivotal interests for the Government of Bangladesh. This paper investigates the concept of work integrated learning (WIL) and generic skills vital to enhance the employability of the current graduates in Bangladesh. We explore different types of WIL that can be applied at higher academic institutions in Bangladesh and what are the various benefits of this type of learning to the key stakeholders, namely; students, universities and employers. Finally, we conclude by pointing out the prerequisites that need to be considered in order to successfully implement WIL in Bangladesh. This is a descriptive study and we have collected data from different secondary sources such as documents available from government agencies, research organizations, archives and library. Moreover, we have also used interviews from sources such as newspapers and magazines documenting views of well-respected academicians and personalities in Bangladesh. Our findings indicate that in order to successfully integrate WIL, there are some prerequisites such as modifying the current curriculum, designing and offering work oriented courses, building strong connections with potential employers and creating awareness about WIL among faculty members and students.

scholarly journals Uncovering WIL practices to enable WIL's expansion in higher education

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 54-68
Author(s):  
Lynnaire Sheridan ◽  
◽  
Oriana Price ◽  
Lynn Sheridan ◽  
Melinda Plumb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Australian Government ◽  
Theory Of Practice ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
Work Integrated Learning ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Professional Degrees ◽  
Study Offer

The Australian Government is financially incentivising work integrated learning (WIL) to enhance graduate employability. As such, universities are currently expanding WIL pedagogies and practices from their traditional domain of professional degrees, to be incorporate into almost all university degrees. Using Kemmis’ Theory of Practice Architecture, this study investigated the practices of established WIL practitioners in universities and uncovers what can be referred to as a WIL ecology of practice. This ecology comprises of key WIL practices, including: networking and selling, negotiating, collaborating and innovating and legitimising. The findings from this study offer important insights into how higher education institutions may develop a WIL ecology of practice, and critically, achieve WIL funding objectives, which has arguably become ever more important given the challenges COVID-19 has presented to university operational budgets.

Entrepreneurial Work-Integrated Learning

2021 ◽  
pp. 119-136
Author(s):  
Alon Eisenstein ◽  
Neta Raz
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Job Security ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Gen Y ◽  
The World ◽  
Work Integrated Learning

After decades of decreasing long-term job security and ongoing global economic crises, attention on and interest in entrepreneurship have significantly increased among Gen Y and Gen Z students in higher education institutions around the world. The pedagogical potential of work-integrated learning (WIL) and the increased offering of entrepreneurship programs in higher education intersect in a field referred to as entrepreneurial WIL (EWIL). This field, where WIL pedagogy is applied to deliver the learning outcomes of entrepreneurship education, is discussed here. The unique features and associated challenges that EWIL presents, particularly when compared with traditional forms of WIL experiences, are also examined, from the framework of a case study conducted on an internship-based course offered in a Canadian university. This chapter contributes to an understanding of the various factors that should be considered when developing novel EWIL programs in higher education institutions.

Designing Meaningful Learning Environments in a Work-Integrated-Learning Course Using a DOCC Design

2016 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Kathy Jordan ◽  
Jennifer Elsden-Clifton
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Teacher Education ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Space And Place ◽  
First Year ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Distributed Framework ◽  
Bachelor Of Education ◽  
Work Integrated Learning

As Higher Education increasingly moving towards a plethora of blended and fully online learning, questions are raised around the space and place of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL). This chapter reports on one institution's efforts to design and deliver a WIL course in a Teacher Education program adopting an open and distributed framework. The redesigned course, Orientation to Teaching, was a first year course in a Bachelor of Education (Primary) program at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. The redesign of the course was underpinned by a Distributed Open Collaborative Course (DOCC) design and as the workplace also became the site of learning, the theory of effective WIL curriculum (Orrell, 2011) also informed the design. This chapter examines the complexity of DOCC design in WIL contexts and uses Khan's 8 dimensions to frame the discussion.

scholarly journals Discipline predicts Work Integrated Learning (WIL) practice in Science courses

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-259
Author(s):  
Susan Rowland ◽  
Daniel Blundell
Keyword(s):  
Evidence Based ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Science Courses ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
Work Integrated Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Programs ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Large Research ◽  
Mathematics And Science

Australian mathematics and science students have low participation in WIL, posing implications for student employability. To better understand this problem we examined the industry-placement and coursework-incorporated WIL offered across the Faculty of Science at a large research-intensive university. The aim of the study was to provide an evidenced discussion of the types and amounts of WIL that different disciplines offer their students. A matrix was used to measure the inclusion of WIL activities in 265 courses (units of study) across all undergraduate programs in a Faculty of Science. The results, which show comparisons between disciplines, year levels, and class sizes. Indicate that a high proportion of courses incorporate WIL, but that some disciplines are significantly more likely to incorporate WIL than others. This study provides important insights into how science students in different disciplines and in different levels of their degree are prepared for the workplace. As we consider how to address graduate employability through integrating WIL in university STEM coursework, this study provides evidence-based justification to initiate reflection about pedagogy.

scholarly journals Employability of international students: Strategies to enhance their experience on work-integrated learning (WIL) programs

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thanh Pham ◽  
Dat Bao ◽  
Eisuke Saito ◽  
Raqib Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Styles ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Qualitative Review ◽  
Multicultural Diversity ◽  
Work Integrated Learning

This paper presents a systematic qualitative review of relevant literature, documents and reports, and critically discusses issues facing international students undertaking work-integrated learning (WIL) activities as part of their higher education in Australia. Initiatives utilised to better support international students on these WIL placements are described. Based on an evaluation of the data reviewed, the discussion highlights two main challenges to international students’ employment experiences: a limited competence in English communication, and a limited understanding of the local working context. In seeking explanations for the above, the authors identified factors such as inadequate student-entry procedures, limited opportunities for socialisation, limited input in cultural protocols, and the lack of soft-skills training. The recommended solutions include more uniformity between government and employer sectors, increased acceptance and support for multicultural diversity, an openness towards diverse ways of thinking, and an enhancement of training in diverse communication styles.

scholarly journals The Challenge of Providing Work-Integrated Learning for Law Students – the QUT Experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Shirley ◽  
Iyla Davies ◽  
Tina Cockburn ◽  
Tracey Carver
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Virtual Work ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Law Students ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Current Policy ◽  
Effective Work ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Successful Work ◽  
Work Integrated Learning

This paper explores the elements necessary for a university to create an academic model for a successful work-integrated learning experience in light of the current policy imperatives of the higher education sector in Australia. It identifies some of the practical issues encountered in attempting to implement those models and hypothesises on what an effective work-integrated learning experience for undergraduate law students should look like taking into account the available research on students’ perceptions of engaging learning experiences. It culminates in the proposal of a Virtual Work Integrated Learning Project which is currently under design in the Faculty of Law at the Queensland University of Technology.

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