The Work-Learn Institute, formerly Waterloo Centre for the Advancement of Co-operative Education (WatCACE), speaks at national and global conferences around the world to share research and knowledge on work-integrated learning (WIL), the future of work and more.
For upcoming conferences, please visit the Work-Learn Institute events page to view the official calendar of events. To learn more about collaborating with our team of well-known keynote speakers and researchers, view our available services and contact us today.
2020
Conference presentations
- Successful transitions for students and organizations: Research and applications (April 16, 2020)
Host: Cooperative Education & Internship Association Conference (CEIA)
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute), Katie Ashcroft (Research Assistant, Work-Learn Institute) and Anne-Marie Fannon (Director, Work-Integrated Learning Programs)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Demystifying research in work-integrated learning (April 14, 2020)
Host: Cooperative Education & Internship Association Conference (CEIA)
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute) and Dr. Sarah Burrows (Senior Associate Director, Providence College)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Developing future-ready students through WIL: The role of competency frameworks (February 5, 2020)
Host: Waterloo Experiential Learning Symposium
Speaker: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute)- Presentation slides (PDF)
2019
Conference presentations
- Developing future-ready students through WIL: The role of competency frameworks (August 2019)
Host: 21st WACE World Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dr. Norah McRae (Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education), Anne-Marie Fannon (Director, Work-Learn Programs)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Operationalizing a quality WIL framework (August 2019)
Host: 21st WACE World Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute) and Dr. Norah McRae (Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education)- Presentation slides (PDF)
Research seminars
- Lifelong learning mindsets and the connection to workplace success (November 14, 2019)
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute), Robert Sproule (School of Accounting and Finance)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Seminar handout (PDF)
- Webinar recording
2018
Conference presentations
- Scaling up experiential learning opportunities and challenges (October 12, 2018)
Host: Educating for the Future: Learning Outcomes and Experiential Learning Symposium, Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance in Toronto, Ontario
Speaker: Dr. Norah McRae (Associate Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education)- Presentation slides (PDF)
Research seminars
- Understanding the perspectives of employers: Talent challenges, needs and recruiting practices (October 30, 2018)
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute) - A holistic approach to evaluating Macquarie University's institution-wide work-integrated learning program (August 28, 2018)
Speaker: Dr. Kate Lloyd (Associate Professor, Director for Learning, Teaching and Research in PACE, Macquarie University)
2017
Conference presentations
- Parameters of a "good" professional experience: Employer perspective (June 6, 2017)
Host: 20th WACE World Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute), Dr. Phil Gardner (Director, CERI, Michigan State University)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Supervisor toolkit: Developing evidence-based tools and tips (April 3, 2017)
Host: Cooperative Education & Internship Association Conference (CEIA) in Denver, Colorado
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute) and Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Summary of key findings (PDF)
- Brainstorming activity (PDF)
Research seminars
- The WatCV research study (November 29, 2017)
Speakers: Jill Tomasson Goodwin (Associate Professor, Communication Arts), Katherine Lithgow (Senior Educational Developer, Integrative & Experiential Learning and Associate, Work-Learn Institute), Joslin Goh (Associate Director, Statistical Consulting Centre, Statistics and Actuarial Science)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- WatCV rubric (PDF)
- Webinar recording
- Undergraduate degree level expectations (Word document)
- WatCV rubric demo (WatIAM credentials needed for login)
- Diversity recruitment practices and workplace realities: A study of co-op students (November 8, 2017)
Speaker: Edward Yeung (PhD student, Industrial/Organizational Psychology) - Sustaining partnerships and employer perspectives on work-integrated learning (October 11, 2017)
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute) - Lifelong learning (March 9, 2017)
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute)- Presentation slides (PDF)
2016
Conference presentations
- Developing, maintaining and assessing WIL programs (November 18, 2016)
Host: Work-Integrated Learning in Ontario’s Colleges and Universities Centre for the Study of Canadian and International Higher Education (CIHE), Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) and Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD)
Speaker: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- WatCACE introduction (November 2, 2016)
Host: CEWIL Canada Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Professional Development (PD) Event in Waterloo, Ontario (formerly CAFCE AGM/PD Event)
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute), Colleen Nevison (Research Assistant, Work-Learn Institute)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Collaborating with WIL stakeholders: Success factors for sustainable relationships (September 29, 2016)
Host: Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN) National Conference in Sydney, Australia
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dr. Jenny Fleming (Academic Manager, Senior lecturer, Auckland University of Technology), Dr. Kath McLachlan (Director, PVC, Learning & Teaching, Macquarie University)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- WatCACE co-op research sampler (August 7-10, 2016)
Host: CEWIL Canada Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Professional Development (PD) Event in Moncton, New Brunswick (formerly CAFCE AGM/PD Event)
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Lauren Cormier (Research Assistant, Work-Learn Institute), Colleen Nevison (Research Assistant, Work-Learn Institute)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Unpacking supervisor experience (June 12-15, 2016)
Host: WACE Second International Research Symposium in Victoria, British Columbia
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute) and Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute)- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Life-long learning and co-operative education (June 12-15, 2016)
Host: WACE Second International Research Symposium in Victoria, British Columbia
Speakers: Judene Pretti (Director, Work-Learn Institute), Dave Drewery (Research Coordinator, Work-Learn Institute), Antoine Pennaforte (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers), Anne Fannon (Director, Work-Integrated Learning Programs), Erin Smith (Associate Director, Waterloo Professional Development Program)- Presentation slides (PDF)
Research seminars
- Trends in work-integrated learning research (June 23, 2016)
Speaker: Dr. Karsten Zegwaard (Director of Co-operative Education, University of Waikato, New Zealand) - The co-op workplace support system (February 11, 2016)
Speaker: Dr. Antoine Pennaforte (Associate Professor, CNAM, Paris, France) - Looking back: WatCACE research in 2015 (January 11, 2016)
Speakers: Colleen Nevison and Lauren Cormier (Work-Learn Institute and University of Waterloo co-op students)
