Adelaide University's WIL Curriculum Framework: A scaffolded and consistent WIL experience for students
Adelaide University is a new university built on the strengths of the University of South Australia and University of Adelaide. From January 2026 the Adelaide University student body will exceed 65,000 enrolments and the University will be Australia's largest educator of domestic students. The College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities is one of six Adelaide University Colleges, and a Work-Integrated Learning 'hub and spoke' curriculum framework has been developed for the College to offer a scaffolded and consistent WIL experience to students across 14 undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs. The courses are integral to the final-year experience, providing a bridge between university learning and professional practice, and embedding key employability knowledge and skills. Informed by theoretical frameworks that foreground real-world problem solving and experiential learning and acknowledging that students learn by connecting experiences with their own knowledge and understanding, the curriculum provides opportunities for both discipline-specific content and broader-based learning. While student experience and outcomes are paramount, aligning the WIL courses within a common structure also maximises efficiencies in management, through consistent procedures, and in teaching, as College-wide content can be delivered through the hub and discipline content through linked spoke courses.
Speakers
Associate Professor Sally Lewis
Professorial Lead Teaching and Learning
University of South Australia, UniSA Creative
Dr Sally Lewis is an Associate Professor and Professorial Lead of Teaching and Learning at UniSA Creative. A former Director of Communication and Director of Marketing, Sally's WIL research draws on her industry background, and she was part of the working groups for the development of WIL strategy and operations for Adelaide University. Sally has been nationally recognised for teaching research in interdisciplinary student learning and has received a UniSA Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.
Associate Professor Kathryn Bowd
Associate Dean Work Integrated Learning
University of Adelaide, Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics
Dr Stuart Dinmore
Senior Lecturer Academic Development
University of South Australia, Teaching Innovation Unit
