Program Types
The nomenclature describing the many iterations of Work Integrated Learning is broad and terms describing different types of activities are used often interchangeably.
Definitions of each type of Off Campus, WIL are given on the following program categories. Definitions have been provided by the Careers & Employment Unit at the University of Melbourne and these are based on what has been found to be the most common usage of terminology as used by employers, faculties/departments and community groups.
Program Category |
Broad Definition |
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A project/assignment or field activity that is assessed as part of a student’s academic program. |
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Includes vacation work, cooperative placements, cadetships, traineeships, industry scholarships, structured workplace learning and Student Work Placements Program. Work experience should be paid unless it is part of an assessable course. |
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Within universities, internships are most often defined as an assessable part of a course which must be completed in order to satisfy course requirements. |
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Voluntary work is unpaid and takes place in a not-for-profit organisation |
In addition to definitions, there are also issues relating to Off Campus, WIL in respect of credit/not for credit and paid/unpaid status of placements. A quick summary of the status of each type of experience is listed below.
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For credit |
Either for or not for credit |
Paid |
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Unpaid |
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Either paid or unpaid |
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