Work-Integrated Learning

Work-integrated learning (WIL) can be defined as “the process whereby students come to learn from experiences in educational and practice settings and integrate the contributions of those experiences in developing the understanding, procedures, and dispositions required for effective professional practice, including criticality” (Billet, 2015).

Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada, 2020) defines WIL as

a model and process of curricular experiential education which formally and intentionally integrates a student’s academic studies within a workplace or practice setting. WIL experiences include an engaged partnership of at least: an academic institution, a host organization and a student. WIL can occur at the course or program level and includes the development of learning outcomes related to employability, personal agency and life-long learning (2020).

Forms of WIL are

• Cooperative Education,
• Degree Work Placement,
• Clinical Placement,
• Field Placement/Work Placement, and
• Field Work (including Simulation Labs)*.

*Laboratory/workshop activities, while providing hands-on learning, are not formally considered to be EL (see Appendix A).