Working Partners
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Workplace-Based Learning Partnership Model

Definition:     Industry partner provides on-site opportunity for student applied learning, paid or unpaid, frequently with employment potential, often integrated with coursework.
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Examples:    Internships, apprenticeships, co-op learning, job shadows.

Implementation Strategies

  • Collaborate with industry to develop WBL programs that meet industry needs
  • Work with stakeholders to identify WBL opportunities (faculty, industry associations, advisory board, alumni)
  • Define and communicate explicit learning goals and expectations to WBL hosts
  • Utilize a coordinator to manage program, seek out and maintain workplace-based learning (WBL) opportunities
  • Screen and revisit industry sites periodically to ensure appropriateness and safety
  • Maintain student WBL opportunity job board, list, or database

Reported Impacts

  • Provided applied, real world learning for students
  • Graduates are better prepared to transition into workplace
  • Increased employment opportunities for students
  • Both student and industry get to see if work environment is a good fit
  • Developed closer and more meaningful ties with industry
  • Participant feedback can inform gaps in curriculum
  • Provided tuition reduction for students, in part or full

Reported Challenges
  • Finding/allocating resources to support industry involvement in WBL (student matching, providing access to forms and reports, visiting sites, etc.)
  • Recruiting appropriately skilled students that fulfill industry needs 
  • Lack of WBL coordinator/ administrator at educational institution
  • Lack of local industry partners
  • Maintaining student opportunities database or list
  • Arranging for academic credit within educational institution
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Workplace-Based Learning Case Study


The Viticulture Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) is a national grape and wine education program that pairs online instruction with continuous workplace-based learning experiences that build from simple job shadowing to a capstone 194-hour internship.  VESTA has partnered with industry to provide some of these experiential learning opportunities but also has developed procedures and guidelines for partners to self-select and for students to find sites on their own.

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The Working Partners team is based at Bellevue College and the Internet Scout Research Group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with support from an advisory committee made up of education, industry, and professional association experts.  The project was originally funded by the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education program, under DUE 1501176 and continues under DUE 1931215.  The material on this site and any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
  • Home
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