An immersive and long-standing model of Work Integrated Learning, meeting both Academic and Professional Accreditation requirements

PRESENTER: Associate Professor David Hobbs (Flinders) & Dr Thomas Vincent (Flinders) 2024 AAUT Award Winner for Programs that Enhance Learning

ZOOM: https://unisa.zoom.us/j/84521616259?pwd=A92x4USisBxvA4HWiU4pG5UowMyQuP.1

ABSTRACT: The unique STEM Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program at Flinders University consistently delivers outstanding graduate employability, student learning and student satisfaction rates when compared statewide and nationally. This is despite being a smaller university based in South Australia, where employment rates are commonly the lowest nationally. Flinders’ unique WIL program immerses students in industry for up to 100 days, the longest undergraduate, core, credit-based placement in Australia. From small beginnings in 1994, the program’s success has led to sustained, planned expansion from approximately 20 undergraduate engineering students to over 300 undergraduate and postgraduate students across all STEM disciplines. This expansion of WIL as a core requirement into non-traditional areas such as mathematics is unique in its scope and design. The program has been highly commended by accrediting bodies on multiple occasions, labelled the gold standard nationally, received University awards, an Australian Award for University Teaching, and local and international recognition. The program models every criterion for good practice in WIL identified in the literature, drawing on decades of established WIL knowledge and Flinders’ proud history in delivering quality WIL programs. The program is led by a unified team of Academics and Professional staff who engage closely with industry and provide student support throughout.

BIO: Dr David Hobbs is an Associate Professor and Director of Studies for Biomedical Engineering, Master of Engineering Management, and Engineering Science at Flinders University. Dr Thomas Vincent is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Studies for Civil Engineering at Flinders University, and both A/Prof Hobbs and Dr Vincent were the Academic Leads for the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Program within the College of Science and Engineering from 2019 to 2024. A/Prof Hobbs and Dr Vincent have contributed to the WIL Community of Practice nationally through invited plenaries (the ACEN SA/NT Chapter, Australasian Association of Engineering Education Conference and Higher Education Research Group Adelaide (HERGA) podium presentation), participating as an ACEN SA/NT Chapter Committee member, WIL Australia membership and Committee involvement, as a mentor for AAUT Award applications (in the WIL Program area) and within Flinders University as WIL mentors and experts.

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