Advancing work-integrated learning through collaborative scholarship
By: Micaela Kelly
The three-year global collaboration connects classroom ideas with real-world work to reshape how students learn.
Teaching and Learning Inquiry (TLI), the open-access academic journal of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching, recently launched a new special section about work-integrated learning (WIL). The section demonstrates how multi-institutional collaborations can strengthen higher education’s understanding, study and delivery of WIL.
It is a significant milestone in a three-year research seminar hosted and led by Elon University. Members of the leadership team include:
- CJ Eubanks Fleming, Associate Professor of Psychology at Elon University
- Annelise Weaver, Elon University student
- Gianna Smurro, Elon University student
- Dr. Judene Pretti, Associate Provost of Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), University of Waterloo
The special section highlights several of the projects undertaken by the seminar participants, which included Anne Marie Fannon, Director, the Work-Learn Institute (WxL) and Dr. David Drewery, Associate Director, WxL.
Together, this international and multi-institutional team explored new ways to strengthen and advance WIL programs.
WIL continues to grow globally and includes programs such as co-op, internships and community projects. Through WIL, students connect their classroom learning to real-world work experiences. Working with employers and community partners gives students the opportunity to build skills, explore careers and develop confidence.
Examining WIL across contexts
The TLI special section advances understanding of WIL among higher education researchers and educators through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). The studies featured emphasize collaboration and knowledge sharing while drawing on common questions and shared methodologies across institutions.
The special section brings together publications that explore several key dimensions of WIL, including:
- The essential elements of high-quality WIL identified through student perspectives.
- The social and cultural impact of WIL on first-generation students.
- Experiences of belonging among healthcare students participating in WIL.
- Faculty readiness, willingness and ability to engage in WIL.
- Student and supervisor perspectives on effective supervision within WIL.
Collectively, the authors use a wide range of research approaches, including literature reviews, surveys, interviews and quantitative analyses, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of WIL.
Building a community of WIL scholars
This project is about more than producing research—it’s about building a shared understanding of work-integrated learning across contexts. By working collaboratively, we generate insights that no single institution could achieve on its own.
The project also fostered a strong community of researchers who shared ideas and tested new approaches. The team expanded the application of WIL across different contexts and settings.
Fannon highlights the broader impact of this approach: “At the Work-Learn Institute, we’ve long believed that collaboration is essential to advancing work‑integrated learning. This project showed what’s possible when institutions work together — deepening our understanding of WIL and generating research that is not only rigorous, but genuinely useful for practitioners shaping student learning around the world.”
Driving innovation in WIL
Dr. Judene Pretti, Anne Marie Fannon and Dr. David Drewery are all CEE contributors to the TLI special section about WIL.
For CEE at Waterloo, the project reinforces the team’s leadership in advancing experiential education, including delivering programs and contributing to global research. The work highlights the importance of strong program design, partnership development and research-backed decision-making. As WIL continues to evolve, projects like this will help keep WIL programs effective, inclusive and focused on student success.
“This work is an important step, but it’s just the beginning. We’re looking ahead to building on our partnerships, growing our global community and continuing to strengthen WIL. By working together, we keep advancing both practice and research in meaningful ways,” Pretti concludes.