Professional

Heather Pate, Senior Learning Designer, Centre for Learning and Teaching, Edith Cowan University

I work with program coordinators and unit coordinators in supporting students throughout their whole degree to find ways for students to draw connections between the authentic experiences they have on placement with their learning throughout their program. I’ve been involved with ACEN since 2015 at the state and national level. Currently, I co-chair the Professional Learning Committee along with Thayaparan Gajendran, am vice-chair for ACEN WA Chapter and am on the Student Scholarships committee. In each of these committees, we strive to support good practice in WIL.

Over the past few years, there has been a shift in WIL practice towards being something that all higher education students are encouraged to do, and are given opportunities to do so. A fantastic result from this has been the growth in diversity and inclusion, accessibility, and the internationalisation of WIL. Since COVID, we have also seen a growth in online WIL, which again, opens up WIL experiences to even more people. 

My passion is the student journey and in finding ways for students to recognise and embrace their own uniqueness through their university experiences. Portfolios are one powerful way to support students throughout their course. Using a whole of program portfolio system, students have opportunities to reflect on their learning, collect evidence, and share concrete experiences with others that connect their learning, skills and practice to their passions.Students who have collected these stories and evidence, and connected these to a range of skills, knowledge and practice will help students articulate these to others, and provides them with the opportunity to develop a sense of belonging within their professional community. 

With a shift towards WIL being something for all students to participate in, rather just than the lucky few, WIL is a powerful way that can build new connections between students, businesses, organisations and universities, that can help open up new ways for doing things, which might not otherwise have been considered, and to be a force for good in our society.

Investing in your professional development is crucial for staying at the forefront of WIL practice.

WIL Australia provides a dedicated stream of resources and events tailored to the unique needs of professional staff who manage and support WIL.

As a professional staff member, you are a custodian of WIL quality and a driver of impact. 

This resource hub is your gateway to the foundational documents and tools you need to ensure excellence in your WIL programs.

Staying informed about the latest research and trends is vital for strategic program management. 

The Routledge International Handbook of Work-Integrated Learning: This comprehensive handbook provides a global perspective on WIL theory and practice. Chapters on diverse WIL models, technology-enhanced WIL, and intercultural competence offer valuable insights for program innovation.

The International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning (IJWIL): Keep up with the latest peer-reviewed research. 

The article on the construction and testing of the Australian Quality WIL Framework is a must-read for understanding the evidence base of your work.

Policy & Advocacy Resources

Your work is directly impacted by and contributes to national policy. 

This section provides information to help you understand the policy landscape and advocate effectively for WIL within your institution and beyond.

Foundational Policy Documents:

• The National WIL Strategy: this key document outlines the national vision for expanding quality WIL. Use its eight key action areas to frame your own institutional strategies and advocate for resources.
  
   
• TEQSA Guidance Note on WIL: Understand the regulatory requirements and expectations from the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency to ensure your programs are compliant and of high quality.

Advocacy Toolkit:

• Making the Case for Investment: use data from the National WIL Strategy and your own impact metrics to build a compelling business case for increased investment in WIL programs and staffing.
  
   
• Briefing Note Templates: access templates to create concise, evidence-based briefing notes for senior leaders within your institution to champion new initiatives or advocate for policy changes.

• International Student Advocacy: stay informed about our advocacy work regarding international students, including how issues like the work hours cap intersect with WIL opportunities and quality of education.