Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a model and process of curricular experiential education which formally and intentionally integrates a student’s academic studies within a workplace or practice setting.
WIL experiences include an engaged partnership of at least these three components:
-
An institution
-
An industry partner
-
A learner
WIL can occur at the course, program or student level and includes the development of learning outcomes related to employability, personal agency and life-long learning (CEWIL Canada, 2018).
WIL experiences provide graduate students with many benefits:
-
Gaining practical work experience in their fields of study
-
Understanding the pressing issues in the ‘real world’ such that students’ research has the potential to be more impactful
-
Allowing for experiences that foster a greater understanding the direction they wish to take in their career
-
Giving students the skills needed to be successful in their chosen career path
-
Gaining an edge over other graduates entering the workforce
WIL happening at Waterloo
At the University of Waterloo, there are different WIL models that provide consistency in how WIL experiences are offered and recorded across academic programs. While there may be some WIL activities that do not fall within one of the models (and accreditation requirements for professional programs).
Program-level WIL
Program-level WIL is a mandatory part of the curriculum, usually managed by the academic department in collaboration with Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).
Program-level WIL includes:
Co-op work term(s) provide full-time, paid experience in a workplace setting related to the student’s field of study with a required duration.
Discipline-specific, supervised, structured work experience with variable intensity, duration and timing.
Course-level WIL
Course-level WIL is part of a specific course, whether required or elective, and is typically overseen by the course instructor.
Course-level WIL includes:
Consists of a project or assignment within the course where students engage with an external partner organization either individually or in teams.
Practicums are a WIL experience that forms the basis of the course and provide students with intensive, hands-on experience in a setting relevant to their subject of study.
Applied research WIL
Research with an external partner involving collaboration with a faculty member and includes co-creating research objectives, active engagement between the student and partner and the partner providing feedback or assessment. Typically, this involves research completed for a thesis or MRP, or as part of a Graduate Research Assistant role. This model applies only when the experience is not covered by other models.
For full definitions of graduate work-integrated learning happening at Waterloo, visit the Academic Calendar.