Flinders University Logo Flinders University Logo
 

Work Integrated Learning

Student learning in partnership with industry and community partners

Connect with a student

Benefits for partners

FAQs

Register your interest

Flinders’ Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is more than work experience. WIL has been developed with an understanding that we must meet the needs of both our students and industry partners, to produce an integrated learning experience that benefits everyone.

For industry, this means hosting WIL students who can, and often do add demonstrable value.

Connect with our Business students

The College of Business, Government and Law has a dedicated team who will work with you to identify the right student to fit your business needs.

Learn more

Connect with our Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences students

The College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences has a dedicated team who will work with you to identify the right student to fit your business needs.

Learn more

Connect with our Science and Engineering students

The College of Science and Engineering has a dedicated team who will work with you to identify the right student to fit your business needs.

Learn more

The benefits of WIL for industry partners

Flinders is dedicated to producing enterprising graduates who have the skills and knowledge to become lifelong contributors to society and can enter the workforce as career ready professionals.

To do this, we need to ensure our students have practical, industry specific experiences that cover everything from communication and team work, to critical thinking and problem solving.

Your organisation can benefit from:

  • a dedicated resource to complete a project or task and boost your business’ capacity
  • enthusiastic new talent with fresh ideas and new ways of thinking, who have been studying your field and its needs from a different perspective
  • a potential recruitment pathway, or an opportunity to talent-pool
  • engagement with the community and one of the world's leading universities.

WIL is more than work experience. Flinders' students can add great value to your business.

“Through an industry project, students get the opportunity to practise what they have been learning through their studies. This includes both the technical content, plus also the softer skills of how to collaborate, how to engage with issues in a creative, innovative way, and how to work amongst themselves as team members of a project.

At PwC we understand the value of talented graduates. The ability of graduates to think laterally, to seize opportunities and to work from day one with clients, is invaluable."

Mark Thomson
Partner, PwC Adelaide

At PwC we understand the value of talented graduates. The ability of graduates to think laterally, to seize opportunities and to work from day one with clients, is invaluable.
work-integrated-learning.jpg
I’ve actually brought them onto my company board. To give advice from a young person’s perspective so we can stay young, fresh and dynamic. We take input from a strategic perspective from young people."

Every student we’ve taken on for WIL has either gone on to get a job with us, or we’ve helped get them interviews and built their networks so they can get their own jobs. Internally we’ve had 8 that we’ve employed.

I love being challenged by young people. As much as we give them, they challenge us on our existing thought processes, and in the tech space that’s so important because technology changes so quickly.

I’ve actually brought them onto my company board. To give advice from a young person’s perspective so we can stay young, fresh and dynamic. We take input from a strategic perspective from young people."

Luca Gnezda
Managing Director, Taptu Pty Ltd

Frequently asked questions

Most industries can benefit from participating in work integrated learning. Some professional fields such as nursing, teaching and engineering have a long history of structured work integrated learning associated with professional accreditation requirements, but it is increasingly becoming a feature of higher education courses across all fields.

Flinders' offers the following student placement options:

  • Accounting and finance
  • Business and marketing
  • Business and technology
  • Clinical rehabilitation
  • Developmental education
  • Disability
  • Education - early childhood
  • Education - primary
  • Education - middle/secondary
  • Engineering
  • Geographical information systems
  • Health promotion
  • History
  • Human resources
  • Human services
  • Inclusion and rehabilitation
  • Information technology (IT)
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Optometry
  • Physiotherapy
  • Science policy and communication
  • Screen and media
  • Social work
  • Tourism

Students participating in work integrated learning are highly motivated and enthusiastic about their placements. Flinders provides students with specific preparation for their placement. Our students undertake a range of activities, academic and skill preparation before going out on placement.

A rewarding workplace experience includes access to the tools needed to do their best work. This would include a workspace, suitable equipment and appropriate mentoring and supervision. Flinders will provide specific advice during the registration process.

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, the mentoring you give to a student can help you in many ways. The extra pair of hands will immediately help with resourcing a project, your employees who mentor the student learn valuable management skills, and you help to improve the quality of graduates available to your industry.

Flinders' work integrated learning programs are scheduled at particular times of the year to fit course structures and may run from one week to 20 weeks. Student availability can be discussed and agreed during the registration process.

Flinders works with you to create a work plan for the student. The amount of involvement of your staff varies according to the plan, but there will be supervision and reporting requirements.

The cost will vary depending on the nature of the program and the resources you need to commit to ensure its success. Students may be paid or unpaid, and this can be discussed during the registration process.

Flinders is happy to work with you on a resolution. We have a process in place to support employers and students through any issues.

Register your interest to host a student

Flinders University Logo

Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042

South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online

Follow Flinders

Facebook - Flinders University Twitter - Flinders University YouTube - Flinders University Instagram - Flinders University LinkedIn - Flinders University

Brand SA logo Innovative Research University logo Indigenous communities

CRICOS Provider: 00114A

Last Updated: 30 Sep 2021
Fearless Logo