Students Campaign for More Work Integrated Learning (WIL) on Campus

TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Students across Ontario are participating in #myWILis, a campaign raising awareness about how students from all programs can benefit from valuable work integrated learning (WIL) opportunities. The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is rallying students to lend their voice on and offline regarding what work integrated learning is to them. Student responses will broaden the definition of WIL to include learning, capstone projects, working in student government or in research labs, volunteering on committees, and other opportunities that can benefit students in any discipline.

Recently, the Government of Ontario recognized that to build the workforce of the future and help students make the most of their learning, our universities need more experiential, or work integrated, learning opportunities. These experiences help students translate their learning, and equip them with the transferable skills needed to secure employment after graduation. Given the recent recommendations to Premier Kathleen Wynne regarding universal WIL for all students, we need to be proactive and creative in thinking of these opportunities.

Responses to the campaign will highlight how opportunities differ between campuses and will prompt a broader conversation about bringing more options to students. This campaign will also demonstrate that though experiential learning is happening every day through classes, presentations, volunteerism, and mentorship, the quality of these experiences, awareness of their full benefits, and the means to reflect and articulate the depth of learning, require attention.

Students can find a #myWILis display on their campus or can participate online by sharing what work integrated learning is to them. Responses outlining what students have experienced and what they want to experience will help bring more work integrated learning opportunities to campus. Students can find out more about the campaign at ousa.ca/myWILis.

About the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA)

OUSA represents the interests of over 140,000 professional and undergraduate, full- and part-time university students at eight member associations across Ontario.

SOURCE Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance

or to arrange an interview, please contact Amanda Kohler, Communications Director, at 416 - 341 - 9948, W: www.ousa.ca, T: [phone] C: [phone], Twitter: @OUSA