Student Identity and Work-integrated Learning (WIL): Exploring Student Experiences

The opinions expressed in this research document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or official policies of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario or other agencies or organizations that may have provided support, financial or otherwise, for this project. [...] A lack of data reflecting the personal lived experiences of underrepresented students makes it difficult to address equity gaps in WIL activities and outcomes. [...] The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) recently published a report discussing the benefits and challenges of remote-based WIL (and will soon publish a report exploring student experiences of inclusivity). [...] In this brief, we use this data set to examine student experiences and varying rates of satisfaction with WIL — across institutions, sectors and academic programs, and across delivery types (i.e., remote or in-person) — through the lens of identity, including gender, disability and immigration status. [...] The survey asked questions related to institution, workplace and sector type and academic programs; on WIL characteristics (such as whether the placement was remote, hybrid or in- person); and on students’ experiences of inclusion and accessibility.