Work-Integrated Learning in the 21st century: Global perspectives on the future, explores new questions about the state of work for new university and college graduates in the context of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL). As these ‘Millennials’ graduate, they are entering a precarious labour market that is filled with ambiguity and uncertainty, creating a great deal of anxiety for those trying to develop skills for highly competitive jobs or jobs that do not yet exist. In their pursuit of skill acquisition, many are participating in WIL programs (e.g., cooperative education, internships) which allow them to gain practical experience while pursuing their education. With a focus on WIL, this book examines issues involved in developing work ready graduates. Topics include mental health and well-being - an urgent matter on many campuses; remote working - an aspect of the information and social media age that is becoming more prevalent as the precarity of work increases; issues of diversity and discrimination; ethics and professionalism; global citizenship and competency; and the role that higher education institutions need to play to prepare students for the challenges of economic shifts. These topics are timely and relevant to the situations faced by new graduates and those who prepare them for the world beyond school. The chapters provide a close examination of the issues from a global perspective, particularly as experiential education and work-integrated learning programs are becoming more prevalent in higher education and viewed as essential for preparing millennials for the 21st century competitive labour market.
Dr. Tracey Bowen is Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream in the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology at the University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada. Her research focuses on examining students' transition between academic life and industry contexts in terms of the personal, professional, and intellectual shifts they experience, and how they articulate the challenges of that transition through critical reflective writing. This research also probes students' perceptions of what it means to be a professional and how they self-manage their behaviours in order to be seen and accepted as a new professional when entering the workforce. This work has been published in Studies in Higher Education and Higher Education Research and Development. She is also a member of the World Association for Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education-International Research Group (WACE-IRG).
Dr. Maureen Drysdale is an Associate Professor of Psychology, St. Jerome's University, and Cross-Appointed Professor, Applied Health Studies - School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Canada. Her research examines how learner differences, psychological constructs, peer support, sense of belonging, mental health, and overall wellbeing impact school-to-work transitions and success in the labour market. Her work has been presented at numerous conferences and published in several academic journals and books. She is the Executive Chair for the World Association for Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education-International Research Group (WACE-IRG), a member of the WACE Board of Governors, and the recipient of three prominent research awards for outstanding and distinguished research in CWIE (CEIA - Ralph Tyler Award, CEIA - James Wilson Award, CAFCE - Graham Branton Award).
