CEWIL Canada defines WIL as “a model and process of curricular experiential education which formally and intentionally integrates a student’s academic studies within a workplace or practice setting.” (CEWIL 2018). The nine types of WIL include Co-operative Education, Work Experience, Mandatory Professional Practicum/Clinical Placement, Applied Research Projects, Service Learning, Apprenticeships, Entrepreneurship, Internships, and Field Experience.
Each type of WIL is distinguished by a wide range of characteristics, and reinforces the view that there is no single “ideal” form of WIL experience, with different forms offering different benefits. The type of WIL work term an employer chooses to engage will significantly depend on their business objectives and needs.
9 Types of WIL #
An applied research and/or development project is a project connecting what a student learns in class to an employers’ business problem. Applied research can also be called a capstone, consulting, or design project. Students will spend anywhere from 2-8 months working with the host organization to solve their problem. Project-based learning is used extensively in the humanities, social sciences, and natural/physical sciences, and is based on research suggesting that real-world projects can assist in enhancing students’ educational experience. The two key features of project-based learning opportunities are the presence of a problem that drives activities and the inclusion of the results in a final product. Applied research is increasingly being incorporated into college mandates and mission statements, and college research offices are attempting to identify more opportunities to fund and develop formal policies in this area.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS #
- Can target larger, long terms problems that are important but not urgent
- Get detailed, well-thought out solutions to a problem
- Low cost and low time required for supervision
- Typically conducted remotely
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS #
- Apply classroom skills in a team setting
- Build unique and industry-focused resume
- Build connections within the industry
- Low time commitment, and typically done remotely
Apprenticeships are dominated by on-the-job workplace training, which comprises about 90 per cent of the designated length of the program and is delivered under the guidance and instruction of certified journeypersons or qualified tradespersons. The remaining time in the program consists of periods of in-school training, which are usually brief, provide both theoretical and practical instruction, and are typically offered by community colleges, private career colleges, and through union-based training. The length of apprenticeship in each trade varies, with most programs lasting two to five years. After completing the program, apprentices can write a trade exam to obtain a Certification of Qualification and become certified “journeypersons” or skilled tradespersons.
BENEFIT TO EMPLOYERS #
- Tried and true method of recruiting and maintaining talent
- Apprentices that graduate into journeypersons have better health and safety performance, greater overall productivity,
- Higher sales and profit – according to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, for every $1.00 spent on their apprentice program, they receive a return of $1.47 back
BENEFIT TO STUDENT #
- Often mandatory part of becoming certified in the skilled trades
- Build relationship with workplace mentors
- Earn salary during education
Co-operative Education (Co-op) involves several different stints in the workplace throughout a degree. A student might spend their first 4 months in the classroom, then 4 months at a paid workplace, and then 4 months in the classroom, etc. Some programs just embrace one long (12-18 months) work placement. In either case, students ultimately spend between 25 and 30 per cent of their program embedded in a workplace where they directly apply the material and reflect on what they learned in school.
Within the WIL typology, co-op is viewed as one option that could potentially cross almost all categories. Some apprenticeships can even be delivered using a co-op model. Co-op programs are generally closely supervised, as well as being applied toward professional designation, conducted on a project basis, or undertaken to address a community need. Co-op work terms are structured so that they occur in between academic courses. Many co-op programs operate year-round and have a set number of hours required. The definition of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE), which has been endorsed by MTCU, defines a co-operative education program as one that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with work experience.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS #
- Fill short term staffing needs
- Help shape the industry’s incoming workforce
- Significant funding available to reduce labour costs of studentsÂ
- Strengthen brand reputation among students
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS #
- Gain professional work experience before graduation – students with co-op experience report starting salaries 15 per cent higher than those without.
- Earn an income while completing your degree
- Network and develop lasting connections within industry
An entrepreneurship experience is a chance for students to run their own business. Often run through school-supported incubators or accelerators, entrepreneurship connects students with resources, space, mentorship and/or funding to launch their own startups or tackle real-world problems for academic credit.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS #
- Compared to other forms of WIL, entrepreneurship doesn’t involve external employers as closely
- Instead, the student acts as their own employer, working closely with the resources offered by their college or university
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS #
- Nurtures personal growth and development
- Entrepreneurship skills can be applied to any field or career later on
- Develop critical thinking, creativity, innovation, collaboration
- Sense of ownership and responsibility
A field placement is an intensive, part-time or short-term project: some field placements are two months long. Field placements don’t require the supervision of a registered professional and aren’t a part of professional certification. They are typically unpaid.
Field experience includes placements and other work-related experiences that prepare students for professional or occupational fields but are not required for professional licensure. The placements are “scheduled hours of activities intended to give students hands-on experience in the workplace and for which they do not typically receive a regular salary or wage from the employer.” They are typically core to the curriculum and necessary for the completion of the program.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS #
- Get to know potential future employees
- Increase productivity and additional service provisions
- Improve staff knowledge and skills, as well as collaborative teamwork within and across professions
- Develop and update resources, complete short-term projects and undertake research
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS #
- Gain professional work experience before graduation
- Test out a specific workplace
- Network and develop lasting connections within industry
One of the most well-known forms of WIL, internships are usually supervised and embedded in a workplace. Internships are typically paid, for credit or not for credit, and can happen in the middle of an academic program or after all academic coursework has been completed. Although they can be as short as four months, internships are usually 12 to 16 months long.
They are offered in a variety of fields, with supervisors encouraged to provide mentoring support as well as supervision. They are supposed to engage students in meaningful paid work.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS #
- Having a student for a longer period of time allows employers to teach them skills – and makes students more productive
- Internships that receive academic credit are of low cost to employers
- Constant employee pipelineÂ
- Provides mentorship and supervisory responsibilities to junior staff
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS #
- Longer time within an organization gives a more realistic outlook of a career in the industryÂ
- When paid, 12-16 months of paid experience allows for a high level of financial security
- Build strong employer connections and a deep understanding of workplace culture
This type of WIL usually happens in a discipline that requires work experience for a professional license or certification, such as teaching, early childhood education, social work or nursing. These positions are typically team-based and unpaid, and follow strict regulations.
Clinical placements are characterized by activities that are core to the program curriculum and necessary for the successful completion of the program. Students are closely supervised by institutional staff or individuals working on behalf of the institution. In some professional occupations, such as teaching and nursing, students participate in highly ordered and regulated practical experiences. In others, such as medicine and law, there are different kinds of long-standing practice-based arrangements.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS #
- Ensure that students have the ethical and technical aptitudes for the job
- Provide day-to-day support
- Develop and update resources, complete projects and undertake research
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS #
- Ensure that the type of work is a good fit for the student
- Gradually develop confidence and increasing independence under careful supervision
- Build strong professional connections and a deep understanding of workplace culture
Community Service Learning is a type of WIL that connects classroom instruction with meaningful community service, focused on engaging students directly in practical projects that strengthen their communities. Service learning differs from volunteering because it typically features a minimum hour requirement and a mandatory reflection piece.
Service-learning programs are more commonly found in universities and are intended to provide equal benefits to both the provider of the service (the student) and the recipient of the service (the community), while ensuring equal focus on both the service being provided and the learning that is occurring. The primary goals of service-learning are positive civic and academic outcomes, and the expectation is that the services provided by the student should meet the goals defined by the community in which they are provided. More than any other type of WIL, this one is intended to include an ongoing structured reflection by the student.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS #
- Students provide skills and knowledge base
- Additional human resources to increase service and potentially bigger goals/projects
- Fosters collaboration between schools and communities
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS #
- Understand how their classroom knowledge can impact the “real” world
- Build stronger relationship with community
- Gradually develop confidence and increase independence under careful supervision
A work experience is one or more terms of full-time paid work during an academic program, where students get experience relevant to their program and career goals. The only true difference between work experience and co-op is the amount of time during an academic program spent on work terms.
BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS #
- Fill short-term staffing needs
- Help shape the industry’s incoming workforce
- Significant funding available to reduce labour costs of studentsÂ
- Strengthen brand reputation among students
BENEFITS TO STUDENTS #
- Have more flexibility than a standard co-op, and gain experience without extending the length of your program
- Earn an income while completing your degree
- Network and develop lasting connections within industry