
Promoting and Facilitating WIL for Small Business
Industry and Community Partner
Brokerage
University
Curtin University
Innovative Features
- Engaging multiple disciplines
- Flexibility in duration, location and space
- Increased use of brokers or third parties
- Engagement with SME’s
Enablers
- Promoting WIL to CCIWA members and assisting with the identification of suitable projects based on business demand.
- Creating a credit-bearing unit so students could complete the 100 to 150 hours of placement as a part of their course. The unit is offered during several study periods across teh course to optimise availability and cater to student needs.
- A CCIWA employee has a dual contract with Curtin and CCIWA as a WIL Project Coordinator which is based at Curtin University. This shared position provides greater connection between industry and students and assists matching students to the WIL placement.
- The partnership is located within the Learning and Teaching and Student Engagement portfolios at Curtin University, to provide academic support and integration as well as improving the learning experiences and connections for students.
- Engaging with student associations and Curtin Guild to champion and promote the WIL placement experience.
- Employing a variety of communication and promotion methods to connect with students.
For more information
Interested students are screened for eligibility to participate in the credit-bearing WIL activity. Students must have completed at least 200 credits towards their degree, and must have a progress status of ‘good standing’. A suitable unit within the current course structure students are studying needs to be available for which the WIL unit can be substituted. All interested students must attend an interview prior to selection for enrolment.
CCIWA also interviews host organisations to negotiation students WIL placement objectives and deliverables and identify the skill set required by the student. Based on this information CCIWA aims to match a student with a WIL host. These processes mean CCIWA members can host a student on WIL placement, focusing on outcomes of the placement rather than administration requirements.
Impact / outcomes
Students: The CCIWA and CBS partnership attracts engaged students from across disciplines and faculties. CCIWA’s knowledge of industry, current recruitment practices and areas of demand are leading to high rates of student employment following the WIL placements. Students gain the opportunity to practice their technical skills and implement the theory they have learned at university in a real-world setting.
Host Organisations: CCIWA and FBL undertake the administration, governance and recruitment processes, significantly reducing workload for the host organisation. The host organisation benefits from students skills, expertise and enthusiasm.
Teaching Staff: The CCIWA WIL Project Coordination based at Curtin University manages the administration, governance and recruitment processes, which reduces the workload of academic staff who can focus on the learning experiences and academic support for students. Teaching staff may leverage from the partnerships facilitated by CCIWA.
Student Assessment
The student assessment is more career preparatory focused, rather than focusing on academic discipline knowledge that has been developed elsewhere throughout the degree.
Students complete a self-evaluation task at the beginning of the placement and upon completion, which feeds through to the host organisation to review and provide feedback, replicating a process similar to a performance review.
Students also complete two professional reports – one on the industry of their host organisation and another on their discipline.
Students participate in a blog or attend a Touch Point Session to connect with their peers also undertaking placement. Students are also required to complete a resume, a LinkedIn profile and to develop a career plan after meeting with a Curtin Career Development Consultant.
Evaluation
Student and WIL host evaluations are undertaken at the completion of the work placement.