The Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN) 2016 National Conference, held in Sydney, showcased cutting-edge research, practice, and strategic thinking in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) across higher education. The conference theme, "WIL 2020: Pushing the Boundaries", reflected a strong sector-wide focus on evolving WIL to meet future workforce, industry, and educational needs. Purpose and Scope The proceedings compile peer-reviewed full papers, abstracts, roundtables, showcases, and posters, demonstrating a mature and expanding WIL research culture in Australia and internationally. Contributions were reviewed to HERDC standards and represent diverse disciplines, methodologies, and institutional contexts.
Conference Sub-Themes
Strengthening Connections: Enhancing collaboration among students, universities, industry, and communities.
Employability & WIL 2020: Preparing graduates for rapidly changing labour markets.
Curriculum Innovation: Exploring new WIL models, authentic assessment, and boundary-pushing pedagogy.
Analytics & Evaluation: Using data and research to measure WIL quality and outcomes.
Leadership in WIL: Developing staff capability and organisational readiness.
WIL Operations & Systems: Improving systems, processes, and resourcing for sustainable WIL delivery.
Contemporary Issues: Addressing equity, digital disruption, internationalisation, and new work realities.
Key Insights & Themes
Employability skills remain a core concern. Communication, teamwork, professionalism, adaptability, and critical thinking continue to be essential, yet gaps persist. Closer university–industry collaboration is vital to ensure graduates are genuinely work-ready and to co-design relevant curricula. Reflection and authentic assessment are increasingly emphasised as tools to connect theory with practice. International WIL models (virtual internships, study abroad, global projects) are expanding, offering scalable alternatives to traditional placements. Equity and access issues—particularly for international students, students with disabilities, and Indigenous students—require stronger structural support. Technology-enabled WIL (mobile tools, learning analytics, digital simulations, virtual orientation) is growing rapidly. Leadership and WIL capability building across institutions are crucial for sustainable, high-quality WIL ecosystems.
Award-Winning Paper Highlight
The Best Paper Award went to: "Senior managers' and recent graduates' perceptions of employability skills for health services management." Findings showed strong agreement on the importance of generic skills but highlighted significant gaps between graduates' self-ratings and managers' observations—particularly in communication, critical thinking, and job-specific capabilities. The study reinforces the need for better WIL design, reflection, and employer engagement.
Types of Contributions
Included Full refereed papers (empirical studies and theoretical analyses) Professional conversations with national WIL leaders Roundtables focusing on innovation, internationalisation, and sector challenges Showcases illustrating applied WIL projects and partnerships Poster presentations highlighting emerging research and pilot programs
Overall Significance
These proceedings demonstrate: a maturing national WIL research agenda, strong institutional commitment across Australia and partner countries, a shared vision for WIL as a driver of student success, workforce capability, and social impact. ACEN 2016 serves as a foundational reference for educators, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to strengthen and innovate WIL toward 2020 and beyond.
