Innovative Partnerships: Bringing WIL into the Classroom

Location: In person, E7, Room 2437

Hosted by: Centre for Work-Integrated Learning

Facilitators: Maria Barichello and Ben McDonald

In this session faculty will be shown how work-integrated learning can be used to create meaningful learning experiences for Waterloo students through engagement with industry or community partners in WIL 611: Interdisciplinary Community/Industry Research Project.  

WIL 611 is a new course, offered in partnership with faculty members, via the Centre for WIL. WIL 611 is an interdisciplinary course open to Masters and PhD students that is designed to:  

• Bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application in the professional world 
• Provide graduate students a unique opportunity to integrate their advanced academic knowledge with real-world experience. 
• Develop students’ professional skills aimed at enhancing their employability and career readiness 

Faculty will be shown: 

• How the course’s flexible framework and structure alongside the Centre for WIL’s resources and services create opportunities for students to engage with industry and community partners 
• How instructors can engage in WIL in a low-stakes WIL course environment via a collaborative offer of WIL 611  
• What resources and services exist for faculty to embed WIL within their own courses 

The Centre for Work-Integrated Learning is a unit within Co-operative and Experiential Education. We design and deliver world-leading WIL curriculum that is informed by research and best practice and co-constructed by faculty members, industry and community partners, students, and WIL teaching and learning experts.