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This paper addresses the question of the relative importance of work-integrated learning placement quality, structure (whether part-time or full-time), and duration (in weeks), for producing employability outcomes. Additionally, we explore whether the quality of those placements is more, less, or equally important than the structure and duration. Drawing on responses to questions in a survey from 2,313 participants, 1,316 of whom had no placement experience and 997 of whom had had a placement experience, as part of their university studies, we tested a series of related hypotheses. After controlling for prior work-experience, results show that the quality of the placement experience is a greater predictor of a variety of employability outcomes than either structure of the placement experience or its duration. Findings will inform curriculum designers, practicum supervisors, and those interested in the outcomes of higher education.

Disruptive technologies, emerging global markets, and uncertain workforce requirements are driving the need for skilled graduates. This research developed a framework for collaboration between stakeholders to ensure work-ready graduates and sustained economic growth. A mixed-methods, multiple case study research design was deployed to gather data from graduates, employers, staff, students, and professional body representatives across three disciplines. The Australian course experience questionnaire generated 476 graduate responses and 1,175 comments. The graduate employability surveys collected responses from 88 graduates, 51 employers and 34 teaching staff. SPSS and Excel functions were used for quantitative data analysis and NVivo for thematic analysis. A cross-case analysis of the three case studies revealed consistency in stakeholder perceptions of domains perceived as important for graduate employability with collaborative partnerships emerging as integral to actualizing the domains. Findings from this research challenge conventional university approaches to brokering and maintaining partnerships and suggests a holistic engagement framework for stakeholders.

Many governments are expecting higher education institutions to make strong links between the educational offerings and employability while many employers are demanding graduates with prior workplace or community engagement before entering the workplace. As higher education institutions respond to these challenges, work-integrated learning (WIL) is increasingly seen as a powerful educational approach in developing and empowering work-ready graduates, with many institutions expanding their WIL offerings. With the expansion of WIL, however, comes the need for more staffing to resource the activity. The type of staff vary from practitioners (placement coordinators, field practitioners), teaching staff, researchers, and curricular designers, all of whom require a relevant skills set and knowledge. However, to date, professional development opportunities directly related to WIL have been limited, with most opportunities offered by some national associations providing webinars and workshops. Furthermore, little work has been undertaken to determine the actual professional development needs of WIL staff. Presented here are the findings of an online, international survey of 668 WIL practitioners which explores their perceived professional development needs.

In the contemporary workplace, data scientists who are capable of interdisciplinary collaboration are in high demand. Universities need to provide data science students with a plethora of learning opportunities that involve collaboration in interdisciplinary contexts and engagement with industry partners. Curtin University and Lab Tests Online Australasia (LTO[superscript AU]) collaborated to provide an interdisciplinary, industry-focused learning experience for data science students. Upon completing the project, students reported improved understanding of the range of applications for data science skills. The experience delivered opportunities for greater self-awareness and highlighted the importance of teamwork, decision-making and leadership skills. This chapter presents Interdisciplinary Project-based Work-Integrated Learning (IPjWIL), an educational approach that equips data science students with the necessary skills to navigate the future world of work. The results of the pilot project described demonstrate how interdisciplinary, industry-focused learning experiences enhance the capabilities of data science students, thereby augmenting employability.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) enables the embedding of relevant real-world learning into curriculum resulting in students that are better prepared to enter the workforce and meet demands of employers seeking work-ready graduates. Research confirms students who undertake WIL as part of their degree consistently achieve better employment outcomes. Industry's role in WIL is critical and, therefore, engagement with industry partners is essential to determine what is required to support their engagement and contribution to WIL. This Office of Learning and Teaching funded research project, aimed to determine the topics, format and mode of resources industry perceives as most useful. The project used a mixed methods approach to gather data from a range of sources with findings confirming industry are seeking resources on assessment, feedback and supervision of students as well as information on clarification of roles and negotiating partnerships. The project outcomes informed the development of user-friendly and accessible resources for industry. [Paper presented at the World Association for Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education, International Research Symposium on Cooperative and Work-Integrated Education, (2nd, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 2016).]

Research into work-integrated learning continues to show through a variety of small-scale and anecdotal studies, various positive impacts on student learning, work-readiness, personal and cognitive development and other outcomes. Seldom are these research findings strongly generalizable because of such factors as small sample sizes, discipline-specific case attributes, and qualitative approaches that seek richness of detail rather than generalizability of findings. Drawing on a sample of more than 3000 students, the study reported here explored the following questions: What curriculum factors can be validly measured to operationalize work-integrated learning curricula design? What measures validly operationalize the concept of "employment readiness?" and What predictive relationships exist between these two sets of measures? Measures are based on students self-reporting of both curriculum characteristics and employability skill acquisition. Findings indicate that robust measures of both curriculum factors and employment-readiness factors are possible and that the curriculum factors are associated with students' employment readiness outcomes.