About this Toolkit
This site seeks to provide a resource-kit of nomenclature, guidelines and best practice features describing compliance arrangements in support of off campus Work Integrated Learning and other off-campus activities at the University of Melbourne. Information compiled in this site represents the summary of a six month project commissioned within Academic Enrichment Services at the University of Melbourne.
Work Integrated Learning, in a variety of forms, is becoming an increasingly popular component of a range of courses and programs at the University of Melbourne.
The term Work integrated learning (WIL) is commonly used to signify the linking of educational programs and learning with some form of activity undertaken externally to the University and generally work related.
It may take place in a workplace or community setting, at a conference or in the field. WIL will occur where students undertake training and/or practical experience in a location physically different to the University to gain knowledge and/or skills. The knowledge and/ or skills may be either directly or indirectly related to their course of study.
WIL can include cadetships, clinical placements, conference papers, co-operative education (or sandwich years), field work, industry scholarships, internships, practicum, work experience, work placements, work projects, workplace research, work shadowing, working holidays or volunteer work. Activities can be undertaken locally, nationally or internationally.
More and more, the value of ‘out of classroom’ learning and participation is being recognised by both the University and a range of external communities, including the employers who recruit our graduates (and often host our students).
The Melbourne Model emphasises a number of principles that strongly support Work Integrated Learning. Central to the new Melbourne Model degrees are a number of defining principles designed to produce world-class graduates.
In addition, a range of Graduate Attributes have been identified which also lend strong support to the value of Work Integrated Learning: The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become :
- Academically excellent: including
- have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
- be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies
- Knowledgeable across disciplines: including
- expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
- have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
- have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment
- Leaders in communities: including
- initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
- engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs
- Attuned to cultural diversity: including
- be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
- have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
- Active global citizens: including
- accept social and civic responsibilities
- have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics
Off campus, Work Integrated Learning, therefore, supports a range of key objectives of the Melbourne Experience and the development of Graduate Attributes.