The Centre for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), as a part of Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE), offers support and resources to engage in various types of partnership that range from supporting the operation of comprehensive and multifaceted WIL programs, supporting undergraduate and graduate courses and applied research projects. Partnerships are established to benefit students, faculty, partners and the institution itself by fostering collaboration, skill development and practical experience.
Types of partnerships
The following partnership types—skills partners, enhancement partners and experience partners—outline the various ways external collaborators can be engaged to enrich student learning while addressing industry needs.
Partnership Type | Definition | Scope |
---|---|---|
Skills partner | Partner provides existing or supports development of new skills content as subject matter expert (SME) | Spectrum of partnership ranges from consulting on content to sharing existing content |
WIL enhancement partner | Partner provides support to either skills content or WIL experience that enhances one or more aspects of the overarching partnership | Spectrum of partnership ranges from providing tools (i.e. software) or workshops to mentorship/coaching but excludes supervision/direction of work |
WIL experience partner | Industry/community partner supervises and/or directs student work - responsible for student activities and student performance evaluation (SPE) | Spectrum of partnerships range based on type and intensity of WIL |
These partnership types are designed to ensure that stakeholders looking to engage industry/community partners understand the types of engagement the Centre for WIL supports. They are intended to help organize and streamline the approach that stakeholders like faculty and instructors can take to build an understanding of needs and intended outcomes when sourcing, aligning and managing partners.
WIL experience partners
Before sourcing partners, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your program/course objectives, the skills and experiences you want your students to gain, and how these align with industry needs. Consider:
- What specific learning outcomes are you targeting? Identify how a WIL experience partner can contribute to these outcomes through hands-on experience.
- What skills, knowledge and competencies do your students need to develop? Ensure that potential partners can offer opportunities that cater to these developmental needs.
Managing partners 101
Managing community and industry partners effectively during a WIL experience ensures that students gain valuable, real-world skills while meeting educational objectives. This FAQ is intended to provide instructors and other WIL practitioners with practical guidance on addressing common challenges and maintaining productive relationships with partners throughout the WIL experience. By fostering clear communication, adaptability and proactive problem-solving, instructors can enhance both the learning outcomes for students and the satisfaction of partners involved in the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tell us about your experience
Significant challenges, such as unresponsive partners or impassable conflicts, may require ending a relationship with an industry or community partner. This can impact the institution. Consider updating or sharing your experience with CEE to ensure consistency across WIL programs and student experiences.