Opportunism, altruism or both? The motivations and barriers to employer participation and engagement in work integrated learning

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Title: Opportunism, altruism or both? The motivations and barriers to employer participation and engagement in work integrated learning
Author(s): Tolson, Mark; Tempone, Irene; Brennan, Linda
Abstract: An excellent higher education system and an educated workforce is a driving force behind a nation's economic and social advancement (Bradley, Noonan et al. 2009); which is recognised by both government and industry in Australia and USA. Furthermore, undergraduates view their university education and work integrated learning (WIL/Co-op) experience as their pathway to a lucrative career upon graduation (Ricks and Van Gyn 1997; Weisz 2001). Thus, it would seem that the benefits of such training are readily transparent to all. Why then, does WIL continue to dominate educationalist concerns to such an extent? This paper aims to share the results of preliminary research into the issues surrounding the implementation of WIL programs using a stakeholder approach. Employers, globally, are a key stakeholder in the development and engagement of WIL/ Co-op programs (Coll, Eames et al. 2009; Patrick, Peach et al. 2009). They provide a practical, real world environment and current real world situations; instrumental to both a students' academic and personal growth studies. Whilst it is universities that are responsible for providing a well-structured curricula and the framework for the WIL experience, it is employers who provide the WIL placements to facilitate the building upon this knowledge foundation by students (Orrell 2009; Braunstein 2004). What factors inspire employers to participate in WIL programs and what barriers to their engagement exist? In this paper, motivations ranging from opportunistic to altruistic and the subtleties in between will be explored.
Publication type: Conference paper
Research centre: Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Business and Enterprise
Source: Paper presented at 'Historic global challenges', the 17th World Conference on Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education (WACE), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 14-17 June 2011, Abstract book, p. 32
Publication year: 2011
Keyword(s): Altruism; Employers; Opportunism; Stakeholders; Work-integrated learning
Publisher: World Association for Cooperative Education
ISSN: 2152-0518 (abstract book ISSN)
Publisher URL: http://www.waceinc.org/philly2011/