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Multiple benefits may be gained from academic staff undertaking pracademic experiences as part of their continuing professional development. A pracademic experience may increase collaborations between practitioners, academics and their tertiary institutions in terms of research and teaching. Academics can demonstrate the relevance, significance, and impact of their empirical research which then can support the practitioner's narrative to stakeholders. Teaching practices may improve as critical curriculum gaps are identified and the curriculum aligned with current professional practice. This paper promotes the proposition that a pracademic experience may also assist an academic to model, scaffold and coach employability skills to students. To provide evidence of the potential benefits from these collaborations, a case study, based upon the author-academic's experiences transitioning into the role of an insolvency file accountant, is included within the paper. The various benefits derived by the academic, the host practitioner, and the academic's home university from engaging in the pracademic experience are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite significant recent changes to the doctoral training environment, particularly provision of employability skills during candidature, there is a paucity of research investigating best practice in this area. This paper describes a case study in how various pedagogical theories, curriculum co-creation, lifelong learner, adult learning, cognitive load, spiral learning, reflective practice, and community of practice theories, were applied at an Australian university to develop and implement a Graduate Certificate aimed at increasing work readiness by delivering research and employability skills training to PhD candidates. Outlined are the rationale, student interest and theoretical basis underpinning this program, and its integrated suite of work-integrated learning (WIL) activities. Comparison against an emerging framework for high quality WIL demonstrated key alignments between the program and the quality WIL framework. These alignments highlight important considerations for comprehensive training of PhD candidates, together with recommendations for future research into WIL and employability training for PhD candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is little research into how Western universities can establish and implement effective WIL (Work Integrated Learning) in their offshore campuses. Given global concern with university graduates' general workreadiness, combined with a need for foreign universities to deliver relevant outcomes to its offshore students, greater insight is needed. This paper examines WIL in an offshore education context. It reports results from work supervisor evaluations of interns in a foreign university that delivers its WIL/internship program to undergraduate business degree students in Vietnam. Although preliminary results indicate that work supervisors are generally satisfied with intern performance on employability skill measures, the authors propose further research that would enable universities to deliver locally relevant WIL programs. The paper concludes by proposing WIL research initiatives aimed at incorporating richer communication and involvement with the company representatives/ frontline supervisors; understanding relevant factors of importance held by industry; and building closer connections with industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the perception of corporate managers regarding employability skills of management students undertaking summer internship with them. The study is divided into two parts wherein the first part consists of literature review and in-depth interviews of senior managers, and it is devoted to identifying critical parameters that affect employability of management students. The second part of research consists of a survey of 195 company supervisors who rated 405 intern students on the 22 items identified in the first part. The results indicate that intern students lacked in communication skills, problem solving ability, analytical skills and business understanding but fared well in the other parameters like self-management, using ICT efficiently, people relations and team spirit, innovative approach and critical thinking, self-confidence and assertiveness and drive to learn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated PhD candidate feedback on research and employability skills training, delivered via workintegrated learning (WIL) within an alternative doctoral training model. Voluntary feedback was received using a mixed-methods survey consisting of 10 quantitative statements reflecting on learning, and qualitative feedback comprising best aspects and needs improvement comments. The results indicate candidates highly valued the WIL-based assessments, teacher interactions, workload, research-relevant problem-solving frameworks, workrelated knowledge and skills, and confidence-building. The qualitative analysis also revealed some PhD candidates desired more peer interactions early in candidature. The study reinforces four emerging design principles for WIL in doctoral programs and provides a contemporary evidence-base for improving alternative doctoral training programs. Areas for further research include: understanding training motivation and needs including content complexity, internships, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) candidate needs; benchmarking engagement with doctoral WIL; increasing doctoral peer interactions; WIL for new technologies; and communicating the value of doctoral WIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ePortfolios are a collection of digital evidence demonstrating learning over time, and are a high-impact practice for students that can be curated for specific audiences. In multidisciplinary programs, such as agriculture/agribusiness, students often have nuanced learning journeys and graduate with a range of skills and work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences. It can be difficult for both students and potential employers to recognize the depth and breadth of the students' individual learning journey, and the skills that they possess. Integrating ePortfolios into an agriculture/agribusiness program has the potential to improve outcomes for student, institution and employer by providing an innovative solution to this tension. It can encourage students to develop technological and reflective skills, as well as highlight their specific WIL experiences, knowledge and understanding. However, while ePortfolios can be a powerful tool, there are challenges to successful implementation. These are addressed via a series of research-driven recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ePortfolios are a collection of digital evidence demonstrating learning over time, and are a high-impact practice for students that can be curated for specific audiences. In multidisciplinary programs, such as agriculture/agribusiness, students often have nuanced learning journeys and graduate with a range of skills and work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences. It can be difficult for both students and potential employers to recognize the depth and breadth of the students' individual learning journey, and the skills that they possess. Integrating ePortfolios into an agriculture/agribusiness program has the potential to improve outcomes for student, institution and employer by providing an innovative solution to this tension. It can encourage students to develop technological and reflective skills, as well as highlight their specific WIL experiences, knowledge and understanding. However, while ePortfolios can be a powerful tool, there are challenges to successful implementation. These are addressed via a series of research-driven recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores Namibian students' perception of work-integrated learning (WIL) readiness skills developed from an offline and online business simulation course, pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the use of simulations to prepare students for WIL placements. The findings indicate that both versions of the business simulation were able to inculcate WIL readiness skill in the students and that students perceive learning tools, such as the business simulation course, appropriate in developing the skills needed for WIL. Skills including communication, professionalism, leadership, teamwork, analytical, problem solving, critical thinking, assertiveness, time management, willingness to learn, attention to detail, diversity and accountability were more significantly developed in the offline business simulation than in the online version. It is thus highlighted in the study that pedagogical and content related strategies that can enhance online business simulations be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If work-integrated learning (WIL) is intended by universities to meet the demand for work-ready graduates, identification of skill requirements for development on placements is a critical part of the learning process. Health services management specific employability skills perceived to be important by managers and recent graduates working in the field and their perceptions of skills they need to improve are not readily available in the literature. This research acknowledges the context specific nature or employability skills. Senior managers and recent graduates working in health services management were identified from a placement data base used at a NSW university, and were emailed a common questionnaire. A total of 38 senior managers and 42 recent graduates completed emailed surveys, rating importance and skills observed for 44 employability skills items. Items were informed by the literature and content analysis of advertisements for graduate health management positions. There was strong agreement between the two groups on important employability skills, and the top seven items on which they agreed were all generic in nature. Skill gaps were also revealed, many of which recent graduates did not appear to recognize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]