What is Work Integrated Learning?
Work-Integrated Learning is a form of curricular experiential education that formally integrates a student's academic studies with quality experiences within a workplace or practice setting.
In Alberta examples of Work-Integrated Learning offered at local PSI's include: Practicum, Clinical, Field Placement, Co-op, Applied Research, Service Learning, Internship, Work Experience, Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Style.
The Government of Alberta’s Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs
initiative has six (6) primary objectives. One of the key objectives is Develop Skills for Jobs. There are two (2) of the key milestones that CPHR Alberta can work with it’s post-secondary partners to support. The first is, having each post-secondary institution (PSI) offer every undergraduate student access to a work-integrated learning opportunity and the second which is to develop employer, industry, and post-secondary partnerships to reduce the existing skills gaps.
As a partner and support to the Human Resources programs across the province, CPHR Alberta is a member of many of the PSI HR program advisory committees, where we are also joined by many of our CPHR members. These partnerships bring great value, support, and opportunities to our members. As an association, our role around these tables is to continue to find was to support the institutions and leaders in education who are preparing the future HR leaders in Alberta while representing the standards of those leading and shaping the industry today.
As an association we work to gain understanding on the challenges PSIs are facing in this space and how the association can best support them. We do this through holding roundtables and panels with faculty, staff, the Advance Education department and students to help us gain more understanding from a variety of perspectives. We are now working hard to engage our membership and industry at large to create a rich and sustainable network for WIL in HR, you can find all of these initiatives here; WIL Quarterly issues, WIL Resources, WIL Events, and Post-Secondary WIL Programs Contacts.
