Work Integrated Learning (WIL) involves practical learning experiences that students complete in their course program and may gain credit for. WIL experiences provide opportunities for students to apply theoretical knowledge to authentic real-world situations, often directly in contact with industry, community or government organisations, helping them to develop valuable professional networks, define their career aspirations and prepare for their transition to the workforce.
At the University of Sydney Work Integrated Learning is an 'umbrella term for a range of purposefully designed for-credit curriculum that enable students to integrate theory with the practice of work’*. Students apply effort, skills, and knowledge to achieve specific goals or complete tasks typically aimed at producing value, whether in the form of goods, services, or intellectual contributions. For WIL to be successful, industry, community and government organisations are integral to the design, delivery and/or evaluation of learning. WIL aims to improve employability of graduates by giving them valuable practical experience which directly supports achieving the learning outcomes of their course(s).
*Adapted from Patrick, C. Peach, D. & Pocknee, C. (2009) The WIL (Work Integrated Learning) report: A national scoping study, Australian Teaching and Learning Council.
Work Integrated Learning activities at Sydney include:
industry and community projects
engineering professional experience program
entrepreneurship development programs, and
simulated work environments including clinical environments, moot courts, and virtual workplace immersions.
Work Integrated Learning is a key part of preparing our students for future careers and staff play a vital role in making this possible.
The WIL CoP is a collaborative community comprising Heads of Education, WIL educators, academics and professional staff enabling the success of WIL across schools and faculties. It is open to all staff to join. View current members of the WIL CoP.
Under Section 15(2)(a) of the Student Placement and Projects Policy 2015, all faculties and University schools are required to develop and register appropriate local provisions for implementation of this policy in the faculty’s circumstances.
Instructions on establishing local provisions (in accordance with the University of Sydney (Policies Development and Review) Rule 2011 and the Policies Development and Review Procedures 2012):
Access local provisions for your school/faculty:
All provisions should be regularly reviewed to ensure alignment with the Student Placement and Projects Policy 2015.
The Quality in Experiential and Work Integrated Learning Advisory Group advises the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Curriculum Futures) on matters relating to for-credit experiential and work-integrated learning, including but not limited to implementing and reviewing governance, policy and quality assurance processes.
| Meeting dates | Agenda item due dates | Meeting time |
|---|---|---|
| 25 March | 18 March | 2 – 4pm |
| 3 June | 27 May | 2 – 4pm |
| 5 August | 29 July | 2 – 4pm |
| 4 November | 27 October | 2 – 4pm |
| Position | Representative | Member(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Pro-Vice Chancellor (Curriculum Futures) | Chair | Professor Garry Barrett |
| Director, Engaged and Work Integrated Learning, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Curriculum Futures) | Education – Enterprise and Engagement | Professor Felicity Blackstock |
| Director of Employability, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Curriculum Futures) | Education – Enterprise and Engagement | Nigel Cossar |
| Deputy Registrar and Academic Director (Education) | Academic Registrar | Nerida Olsen |
| Head, Regulatory Affairs (TESQA), Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) | TESQA regulatory expert | Rachael Weiss |
| Associate Dean (Education), FASS | Faculty representative | Associate Professor Jan Shaw |
| Associate Dean (Education), SCM | Faculty representative | Professor Matthew Hindson |
| Head, Education, Faculty of Medicine and Health | Head of Education representative | Cecily Oakley |
| Head, Education Services, University of Sydney Business School | Head of Education representative | Alan Henry |
| Industry representative and Manager of the Whole of Government Team | Industry representative | Janet Kilgallon |
| WIL CoP academic representative and Senior Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences | WIL Community of Practice (academic) representative | Dr. Sabrina Lomax |
| Work Integrated Learning Community of Practice (‘WIL CoP’) professional representative and External Engagement Manager (Experiential learning), FASS | WIL Community of Practice (professional) representative | Ada Yeung |
| Executive Director, External Engagement, Vice-President (External Engagement) | External Engagement team representative | Frier Bentley |
| Student representative (Faculty of Engineering) | Student representative | Zhi Yi Leong |
| Student representative (Faculty of Medicine and Health) | Student representative | Monica Phong |
The Advisory Group will:
Education, Enterprise and Engagement
Email: [email protected]
Education, Enterprise and Engagement
Email: [email protected]