Building employability skills: work integrated learning
A number of recently published reviews on graduate employability indicate that while industry is satisfied with graduates' technical skills, their employability skills are considered underdeveloped1. At Deakin University, students are encouraged to undertake internships or work experience placements to enable experiential learning in an area related to their study and career goals. The faculties collaborate with Careers and Employment to assist students to undertake work integrated learning (WIL) placements in industry, to enhance their employability. WIL has taken on an increasingly central role in building key employability skills and ensuring Deakin graduates enjoy a smooth transition from study to work.
Jo Sarah, Experiential Learning Officer in the Faculty of Arts and Education at Deakin, saw over 300 students undertake work-integrated learning through the Faculty throughout 2008. She identifies key benefits for both students and employers: "The practical application of two years of theoretical learning can, in a sense, be like wearing reading glasses for the first time - everything makes sense, has a purpose. Employers also benefit from work-integrated learning in that it allows them to 'trial' potential future employees on a short term basis without having to commit to an employment contract. They are also able to adjust their workforce to meet special projects or seasonal fluctuations."
Over the summer trimester, Film, Media & Communications major Ashleigh Alexander completed an internship with TR Corporation. Ashleigh's film and video technical skills were utilised to produce short demonstrational videos for engineering measurement equipment that TR rents to clients. Ashleigh found working in a professional environment helped her to further develop essential communication skills through contact with key clients, and provided first-hand experience dealing with contracts and quotes.
TR's Product Manager, Graeme Murphy, sees future employment potential for Ashleigh as "She has now been exposed to companies that need instructional videos produced who know she's competent and efficient." Having hosted an engineering student previously, Mr. Murphy sees benefits in having "fresh eyes to look at things", and that "diversity in a team gives you many perspectives on a problem."
Each faculty at Deakin has coordinators dedicated to assisting students seeking WIL to search for or prepare for their placement. In collaboration with faculty WIL coordinators, Deakin Careers and Employment has produced a booklet designed to assist students with all the steps from identifying and contacting possible host organisations, through to reflecting on their learning during their work placement. Monthly information sessions are run to provide information and answer questions of students planning for a WIL placement. More information on these resources and links to the WIL programs offered by each faculty at Deakin are available on the Careers and Employment website.
Employers wishing to discuss WIL opportunities in their workplace can contact Jobshop Manager, Sarah Milne for support with advertising placements and liaising with faculty coordinators.
References
1 2007 National Internship Scheme Discussion Paper, the 2008 National Review of Career Development Services in Tertiary Institutions and the 2007 BIHECC Graduate Employability Skills report.
