Benefits of Work-Integrated learning

Benefits for ALL

Following the success of overseas models, many tertiary educational institutions throughout New Zealand are providing degrees and other qualifications that include significant work-integrated learning opportunities. Increasingly, employers are demanding that graduates be 'work-ready' from day one, whether they are in the Education, Health, Arts, Science, Business, Technology or Social Science fields. Employers are less willing to employ graduates who, although academically able in their discipline, have 'social' deficiencies and may lack the important personal and interpersonal skills needed in today's fast changing working environment. Work-integrated learning programmes help to produce more well-rounded graduates who can 'hit the ground running' as they begin their future careers.

There is evidence to show that graduates who gained work experience in their tertiary qualification get jobs more easily than those with similar qualifications but without the experience. It makes sense - employers want the qualifications and the experience!

There are a number of benefits for those participating in a co-operative education programme.

NZACE seeks to help all three parties reap the benefits of work-based learning.  A key means of this is the Association's annual conference, usually held early in the year.  This conference allows students employers and education institutions to meet, present papers about their programmes and research, and network to discuss and enhance best practice.  The conference for 2002 was held in Wellington  21-22 March 2002.  Next years conference details will be notified on the web site in due course.

• Skilled, motivated non-permanent staff

• Projects completed that otherwise may not have started and at reduced cost

• A good HR strategy

• evaluation of potential graduate employees (takes the uncertainty out of the appointment process)

• reduced recruitment & initial training costs

• reduced staff turnover

• Access to tertiary institutions' personnel and facilities

• Enhanced corporate profile

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Enhanced Learning

• better quality 'real life' learning experiences

• relevance and application of classroom work

Enhanced Career Prospects

• gain experience of workplace discipline

• essential personal and interpersonal skills developed

• contacts made leading to future career advantage

• more able to identify the right career path

• graduates with work experience win positions more readily

Combining Work with Study

• most co-operative education programmes are integrated into the curriculum, i.e. are 'credit bearing'

• many co-operative education programmes enable students to undertake the work component overseas (combining study with 'O.E.' and work experience)

• a number of co-op programmes provide for the work component to be on a paid basis

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Programme Enhancement

• better quality programmes (enhanced by 'learning in context')

• better facility and other resource utilization (reduces on-campus costs)

• research, teaching and staff development

Student Body Enhancement

• better level of applicants

• better motivated students

Community Profile Enhancement

Improved Industry Links