Knowledge gaps and global trends, Philosophical perspectives on WIL, WIL as a research topic

Transforming Education – Transforming Lives: Reports from a special session on Current Issues in Work-Integrated Learning (CIWIL) in Europe

The international outreach of CIWIL (KAM AIL in English https://www.hv.se/en/research/research-environments/area-of-strength-work-integrated-learning/) was impressive at the ICERI 2024 conference. This world-wide conference attracted 780 attendees from 70 countries. CIWIL (KAM AIL) among others organized the special session Current Issues in Work-Integrated Learning (CIWIL) in Europe chaired by Ulrika Lundh Snis, Anna Karin Olsson and Kristina Areskoug Josefsson.

Europe is challenged by changes in the labor market and needs for life-long learning, development and innovation to meet demands from both society and industry. Many initiatives are related to the field of work-integrated learning (WIL) as they pay attention to various aspect of learning in different context such as education, collaboration, workplaces and research.

WIL can provide insights to the transformation of education and individual lives through its transdisciplinary characteristic as WIL research addresses real-life complex issues in society with a focus on the relationship between working life and learning. Through different study objectives WIL can contribute to employability, life-long learning and capacity building.

In this session we called for various contextual perspectives on WIL. The session presented an overview of current issues of WIL in research and practice from a European perspective, exemplified by cases from diverse applications of WIL practices and contexts in higher education. This was an opportunity for sharing WIL experiences and for creating networks to further knowledge and exploration of WIL.

While the session showed many different contextualizations on WIL, still one key “take-away” was about the genuine concern about the learning conditions for individuals. Many similar issues related to organizing and providing support structures to improve learners’ conditions were raised – no matter where the learner come from, i.e. a professional at a workplace or a student in higher education. Work-integrated learning was discussed as a field of study that can advance integrated knowledge about learning in higher education, in working life and lifelong.

The following papers were included in the session:

  • BE SMARTER! STRATEGIC CAREER PLANNING VIA WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING IN PHD EDUCATION, A.K. Olsson, K. Areskoug Josefsson, University West, Sweden
  • HOW TO KILL A TOOLKIT: WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLATFORMS AND TOOLS, D. Lukic, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
  • VERTICAL INTEGRATED PROJECTS FOR WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING: LEARNING ABOUT RESEARCH AS WORK, U. Lundh Snis, H. Smidt Södergård, L. Piper, W. Lundqvist Westin, K. Dahlquis, University West, Sweden
  • A BALANCING ACT – SUPERVISORS’ REFLECTIONS ON THE SUPERVISOR ROLE IN BUSINESS INTERNSHIPS, K.K. Longva, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway

In addition, University West was proudly represented by more University West colleagues from all our four departments, presenting WIL research:

  • FROM LIFELONG ONLINE LEARNING AT UNIVERSITY TO SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, C. Fredriksson, C. Holgerson
  • A GOOD WORKING ENVIRONMENT: WHAT PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS TO MEET?, L. Aggestam, A. Svensson
  • CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF LEARNING AND INSTRUCTION THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A PRELIMINARY RESEARCH AGENDA FORMED BY AN EXPERT PANEL, J. Jaldemark, J. Lundin, R. Säljö, J. Edwards, A. Gegenfurtner, S. Järvelä, M. de Laat, Y. Lindberg, S. Seufert, M. Specht, L. Svensson
  • ADDRESSING BIAS IN TEXT-TO-IMAGE GENERATION WITHIN HEALTHCARE THROUGH NORM-CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES, C. Master Östlund, S. Höglund Arveklev
  • WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING AND HIGHER EDUCATION, L. Svensson, T. Winman
  • CO-CREATION FOR PLANNED CHANGE IN A HEALTHCARE ORGANISATION – AN INTERVIEW STUDY ON PERCEPTIONS AMONG STAKEHOLDERS, M. Lund, J. Hermansson, H. Vallo Hult, A. Svensson
  • A QUALITY ENHANCEMENT FRAMEWORK AS SUPPORT FOR WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING (WIL) IN WORKING LIFE, H. Vallo Hult, H. Smidt Sodergard, U. Carlén, K. Johansson, U. Fredriksson Larsson, M. Påsse, I. Tano, J. Linder, U. Lundh Snis

Read more:
ICERI2024 Conference proceeding is upcoming soon: https://iated.org/iceri/publications
Book ISBN 978-84-09-63010-3
DOI: 10.21125/iceri.2024

We are looking forward to further impact European higher education and working life through more innovative WIL research.

Ulrika Lundh Snis
Professor of informatics and head of the CIWIL
University West, Sweden

Anna Karin Olsson
Associate Professor in Business Administration
University West, Sweden

Kristina Areskoug Josefsson
Professor in Work-integrated Learning
Faculty of Health Sciences, University West, Sweden

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