Work Integrated Learning (WIL) provides students an opportunity to engage in authentic learning activities through connections with industry and community and is a key mechanism to enhance graduate employability and transition graduates into a rapidly evolving labour market. This presentation will provide an overview of some trends and innovation occurring in WIL across Australia. Enablers of successful innovation and innovative WIL models and their associated features identified through a recent Australian Technology Network funded project will be presented. A brief overview of two further recent projects will be provided. The WIL to Work project which is addressing identified barriers to engagement in WIL for international students through development of micro credentials using an innovative co-design method and The Edge project that showcased how university students can develop and evidence enterprise and entrepreneurship capabilities through WIL. Finally, some reflections on the emerging impact of COVID -19 on innovation in WIL will be posed.
Judie Kay is Director, Employability and Career Education at RMIT and is responsible for the development and implementation of a broad range of RMIT career, employability and work integrated learning strategies. She has been involved in numerous national employability and work integrated learning (WIL) projects including The Edge, Emerging WIL Models and Leading WIL project. Judie is currently leading an Australian Government grant developing micro credentials to support International Students undertaking WIL. Judie is Co-Founder and Past President of Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN), the peak association for WIL in Australia and a member of Executive Committee and Vice Chair Partnership and Programmes of WACE, the world body. Judie was awarded the WACE global award for “Excellence in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Commitment to Co-operative education and Work integrated learning” in 2015.