Work-Integrated Learning:

A Perspective from SSACI

Elements of WIL:• Learning that takes place through the medium

of work• Definitive element is the presence or absence of

real work• Work is real if done to a productive end, not

merely to facilitate learning• Real work may include sheltered practice but

seldom simulation • Work may be real even when it is not performed

in a formal workplace

• Clarifies students’ career aspirations• Improves academic & practical learning• Develops vocational competence• Improves employability (c.f. SA research)• Exerts positive ‘washback effect’ on

college curricula• Promotes meaningful college-industry

partnerships

Benefits of on-course WIL

Why WIL matters to students:

Jobs

Workplace behavioural

skills

Post-secondary education/

training

Occupational skills as

practised in the workplace

Workplace connections

Why WIL matters to institutions:

Better inputs lead to…. improved outputs

Pass rate

Throughputrate

Employability

Instructors:• Industry-experienced

Curricula:• Industry-aligned

Students:• Workplace experienced

WIL capacity in SA:• SA economy currently comprises ±6’500’000

skilled or semi-skilled jobs in 560’000 tax-paying (i.e. profitable) companies

• At 7% of FTE headcount, or one trainee per company, SA employers could therefore host ±500’000 full-time trainees per year, or a million for 6 months or 2 million for 3 months

So, the real problem is not industry capacity but lack of employer willingness

Business pays taxes to fund skills training

But doesn’t get what

it wants, so…

It pays a skills levy to fund

skills training

But doesn’t get what

it wants, so…It hires private

training companies at

treble the price

Which cuts off

public colleges, so…

The public training system never improves

So…

How business is getting it wrong:

Obstacles to WIL• Lack of employer participation is the single greatest

constraint on WIL training in SA: a mindset problem

• Colleges & employers find it difficult to engage with one another

• Performance standards at colleges are generally unrelated to industry, especially for practical skills

• Govmt policies affecting WIL need to be more coherent & better aligned within & across ministries

• Administration of WIL in colleges, companies & SETAs is alarmingly weak

Where to now?• WIL must be seen as essential for aligning TVET

system to industry and to improving students’ employment prospects

• Expanding WIL is therefore in the interests of the state, the economy, TVET institutions & students

• To expand WIL, a mindset change is required of industry &, therefore, the business case must be made

• Organisation & funding of WIL must be built into public TVET programmes

Thank you!

WIL promotes economic growth