ACEN Survey

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ACEN Survey WIL in Australia Carol-joy Patrick,
Griffith University


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• 50 responses from 15 Universities
• Swinburne University
• Southern Cross University
• Griffith University
• University of Technology Sydney
• Charles Sturt University
• Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
• Macquarie University
• Victoria University
• University of South Australia
• Qld University of Technology
• University of Western Sydney
• Curtin University
• University of Sydney
• University of the Sunshine Coast
• Central Queensland University

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• How Important is the WIL Agenda in your
  University
• Over 70 of respondents rated the importance of
  WIL as falling between 7 and 10, with 1 being not
  very important, and 10 being of a high level
  strategic importance.

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• Recent Major Innovations in WIL in your
  University.
• University-wide policy and implementation.
  Commitment to
• embed 25 of WIL in all courses in next 5
  years.
• Extensive program of cooperation with industry
  partners funding
• students to participate.
• Linking of WIL to graduate employment.
• Appointments of WIL coordinators/directors.
• New structure to enhance connection between
  industry
• placements and curriculum.
• Expansion of existing programs to other degree
  areas.
• Integrating WIL into courses rather than
  stand-alone experience.
• WIL part of broad community engagement agenda for
  the
• University.

5

• Percentage of students within your discipline or
  work area involved in WIL activities at the
  moment.
• 50 of those disciplines reporting a percentage
  reported that 85-100 of students in their
  discipline were involved in WIL.
• 40 reported that 25-50 of students in their
  discipline were involved in WIL.

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• Percentage of students in your University
  involved in WIL at the moment.
• 30 of respondents reported that 50-100 of
  students in their University were involved in
  WIL.
• 75 reported that 20 or more of students were
  involved in WIL.
• Most respondents believe the number of students
  involved in WIL would be maintained or would grow
  in the future.

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• Critical Issues in relation to conducting WIL
  activities summarised under following headings
• Pedagogy
• Placements
• Staff
• Risks
• Resources

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• PEDAGOGY
• Academic credibility.
• Assessment.
• Consolidation of pedagogical understanding
• amongst other academics.
• Embedding WIL in already tight curricula.

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• PLACEMENTS
• Creating student placements in a crowded market.
• Creating partnerships with industry
  organisations.
• Need for broad industry support.
• Exploring whole gamut of WIL possibilities.
• Virtual opportunities.
• Maintaining Industry loyalty to WIL programs.
• Sourcing placements for International students.
• Need environments that are nurturing to student
  learning.
• Student capacity to engage given pressure of
  work, family,
• studies etc.

10

• STAFF
• Developing staff capabilities.
• Cultural change needed.
• Workload issues.
• Time to be creative and innovative.
• Development of research initiatives.
• Need for involvement by academics.
• Academic/Admin staff divide.

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• MANAGING RISKS
• Codes of conduct.
• Duty of care.
• Students not taking up positions.
• Insurance.
• Intellectual Property issues in unpaid
• placements.

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• RESOURCES
• Resource intensive.
• Data management.
• DEST compliance.
• Institutional Underpinning.
• Sustainability for staff and industry.
• Charging HECS fees for unpaid work.
• Professional practice preparation.
• Adequate funding.