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WIL experience partners

Before sourcing partners, it’s essential to have a clear understanding of your program/course objectives, the skills and experiences you want your students to gain and how these align with industry needs. Consider:

• What specific learning outcomes are you targeting? Identify how a WIL experience partner can contribute to these outcomes through hands-on experience.
• What skills, knowledgeÌýand competencies do your students need to develop? Ensure that potential partners can offer opportunities that cater to these developmental needs.

Managing partners 101

Managing community and industry partners effectively during a WIL experience ensures that students gain valuable, real-world skills while meeting educational objectives. These frequently asked questions (FAQ) are intended to provide instructors and other WIL practitioners with practical guidance on addressing common challenges and maintaining productive relationships with partners throughout the WIL experience. By fostering clear communication, adaptability and proactive problem-solving, instructors can enhance both the learning outcomes for students and the satisfaction of partners involved in the program.

Frequently asked questions

WIL offers students invaluable opportunities to apply academic knowledge in real-world contexts, build professional skills and deepen their understanding of career pathways. However, like any activity that bridges the classroom and workplace or community setting, WIL carries a range of potential risks.Ìý

As an instructor, you play a key role in helping identify, mitigate and manage these risks to ensure students can engage meaningfully and safely in their WIL experiences. Risk management in WIL involves anticipating challenges, setting clear expectations, supporting ethical and professional conduct and creating contingency plans. Whether students are working with industry or community partners, in teams or independently, building risk awareness into your course design helps protect all parties and enhances the quality and sustainability of the experience.Ìý

Student safety in unpaid work experience

When incorporating WIL into your course, it’s essential to ensure students are protected and that activities meet University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ safety and compliance standards. The University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’s Safety Office outlines procedures and responsibilities for unpaid experiences, including those organized by instructors or arranged independently by students.

Key considerations include:

• Insurance coverage: Many students participating in unpaid work are eligible for insurance through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), but eligibility criteria and processes must be followed.
• Volunteer vs. unpaid experiences: Distinctions are made between student volunteers, unpaid experiences and roles involving research; each has specific documentation and approval requirements.
• Documentation and risk management: Depending on the setting and nature of the work, risk assessments and proper supervision may be required. Templates and forms for tracking unpaid student activities are available on the Safety Office’s website.

Instructors planning to embed WIL into their curriculum should review the full Student Unpaid Work Guidelines to ensure compliance with university and legal standards.

Tell us about your work experience

Significant challenges, such as unresponsive partners or irreconcilable conflicts, may require ending a relationship with an industry or community partner. This can impact the institution. If this occurs, consider informing CEE about your experience to help ensure consistency across WIL programs and student experiences.

Discover our resources

Looking to easily add a student project or practicum? Explore our ready-to-use LEARN templates designed to support clear expectations and meaningful experiences.