At Loyalist, we believe in the power of community and first-hand experiences. That’s why we seek out opportunities for our students to gain hands-on learning with amazing employers – like you!

What is Work-Integrated Learning?

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a form of curricular experiential education that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with quality experiences. WIL experiences include an engaged partnership of an academic institution, a host organization, and a student. WIL can occur at the course or program level and includes the development of student learning objectives and outcomes related to employability, agency, knowledge and skill mobility and life-long learning. Learn more about WIL at cewilcanada.ca.

WIL is win-win – for both students and employers

• For students: WIL provides opportunities to get the inside scoop on their future career from professionals in their field while making invaluable experiences that will prepare them for the workforce. 
• For employers: WIL students bring new ideas and fresh perspectives into your workplace while providing you with access to a qualified, motivated talent pool of students who may be a good fit to fill future long-term positions (find your next superstar!). WIL students can offer help where your business needs it most as they can work on a wide range of assignments, from specific projects to general support. 

Connect with us to learn about collaborating with a WIL student from one of our many programs!

At Loyalist, we offer the following types of WIL across our programs:

• Applied Project: Students are engaged in research that occurs primarily in workplaces, includes: consulting projects, design projects, community-based research projects.
• Clinical Placement: Involves work experience under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional (e.g. preceptor) in any discipline that requires practice-based work experience for professional licensure or certification. Practica are generally unpaid and, as the work is done in a supervised setting, typically students do not have their own workload/caseload.
• Co-op: Co-op consists of alternating academic terms and paid work terms. Co-op internship consists of several co-op work terms back-to-back. In both models, work terms provide experience in a workplace setting related to the student’s field of study. The number of required work terms varies by program; however, the time spent in work terms must be at least 30% of the time spent in academic study for programs over two years in length and 25% of time for programs two years and shorter in length. As an example, you can read more about our Cyber Security Co-op program here.
• Placement: Provides students with an intensive part-time/short-term intensive hands-on practical experience in a setting relevant to their subject of study. Field placements may not require supervision of a registered or licensed professional and the completed work experience hours are not required for professional certification. Field placements account for work-integrated educational experiences not encompassed by other forms, such as co-op, clinic, practicum, and internship.
• Service Learning: Community Service Learning (CSL) integrates meaningful community service with classroom instruction and critical reflection to enrich the learning experience and strengthen communities. In practice, students work in partnership with a community-based organization to apply their disciplinary knowledge to a challenge identified by the community.

For more information about WIL at Loyalist College, contact Paul D. Smith, Director of Career Services and WIL, pdsmith@loyalistcollege.com.