WIL in Science: Development of a generic unit for BSc students

Uptake of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is far less in Science than other STEM disciplines at the University of Tasmania, many of which have a requirement for WIL for professional accreditation, including ICT, Engineering, surveying and agriculture. This disparity is consistent with national trends (Edwards et al., 2015). Despite these pockets of activity in specific disciplines, we currently lack a generic WIL program suited to broad implementation across the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology.

This is one of six ‘Lighthouse Projects’ co-funded by the Australian Council of Deans of Science, in the subtheme of ‘Setting up Faculty WIL programs.’ Here we report on a student survey and focus group discussions with academics from 10 majors (disciplines) in the BSc (HREC H0015699). Questions aimed to elucidate the participants understanding of WIL and gather qualitative feedback on the planned unit.

Preliminary analysis of the data shows that staff differed in the breadth of activities they classify as WIL independent of disciplinary area. Types of WIL currently offered in the BSc varied from limited to none in Mathematics and Physics, to use of authentic experiences in practical units in disciplines such as GIS and Spatial Science or research projects in Chemistry, Plant Science and Zoology, typically in third year. Several academics stated that students in their disciplines undertook voluntary or summer vacation work that may meet the professional work requirements of the proposed unit. Consistent with this, 46% of BSc students who responded to the survey (n = 76) preferred to undertake such a unit in the summer semester. Collated information was used to inform the development of learning outcomes, support, delivery and assessment of a generic WIL elective unit for the natural and physical sciences at the University of Tasmania. We will shortly interview selected employers for their perspective on the new unit.