The second meeting of NEWILL (Network of Excellence for Work-Integrated and Lifelong Learning) took place in Trollhättan on 12–13 February 2026. Twelve dedicated senior researchers and experienced lecturers from four universities in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark gathered to take important steps towards strengthening Nordic cooperation to enhance research, improve educational practice, and support the next generation of scholars and lecturers in WIL. The NEWILL network aims to strengthen knowledge of WIL in Nordic higher education and contribute to the international research community in WIL with Nordic perspectives and examples from Nordic settings.

On the first NEWILL day, participants shared national status reports from their respective universities and countries. Unsurprisingly, many commonalities emerged in terms of both strengths and challenges. At the same time, the discussions revealed important differences across the Nordic countries – differences that could form the basis for new educational initiatives and comparative research projects in WIL.

The need for a stronger connection between work-integrated and lifelong learning is also highlighted by the OECD:
“To sustain positive employment trends during weaker labour markets, it is essential to ensure that improved educational attainment is grounded in better learning outcomes. This includes strong foundational skills that can facilitate lifelong learning and relevant employability skills that support individuals in their careers.”
(Education at a Glance 2024, p. 19)

The NEWILL participants believe NEWILL is well equipped to address these challenges, both through educational activities and through research examining the ways in which Work-Integrated and Lifelong Learning influence skills, competences, and labour-market outcomes. At a time when education authorities and the labour market are calling for more workplace-oriented education, WIL is part of the answer. Work-integrated education (WIE) and learning (WIL) challenges traditional theory-intensive learning outcomes, moving towards more comprehensive workplace-relevant competencies.

Forthcoming NEWILL activities include the development of funding proposals aimed at Nordic and European research programmes, as well as coordinated initiatives within each participating country. We also plan a cross-institutional meeting to share study programmes, with the aim of inspiring the development of best-practice models of WIE and WIL.

On the second day of the workshop, the editor of the newly launched scientific journal Current Issues in Work Integrated Learning (CIWIL), joined the group. This provided an excellent opportunity for discussion about the journal’s aims, scope, and editorial practices. CIWIL represents an important future outlet for research on Work-Integrated and Lifelong Learning, supporting communication with both the academic community and practitioners operating at the intersection of educational institutions and working life.

These initial steps towards establishing a sustainable Nordic network were highly inspiring and created a strong foundation for future collaboration. NEWILL welcomes new members, both institutional and individual, including research groups or educational programmes that may not identify primarily as WIL institutions but are nevertheless engaged in WIE and WIL across different settings to address the challenges of the 21st century.

The next natural meeting point for NEWILL will be in connection to the International Conference of Work-Integrated Learning – WIL’26. The conference provides an excellent opportunity to share research, educational experiences and, to build stronger connections with one another across the Nordic countries.

Trond Beldo Klausen
Associate professor of Sociology, Ph.D.
Dept. of Society and Politics
Aalborg University, Denmark
tbk@society.aau.dk
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3260-5090

Anne Katrine Folkman
Associate Professor in Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social Studies,
University of Stavanger, Norge
anne.k.folkman@uis.no
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0966-4014

Andreas Thon
Associate Professor in Organization, Leadership and HR
Department of Leadership and Organization
Kristiania University of Applied Sciences
andreas.thon@kristiania.no
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2735-3776

Kristina Areskoug Josefsson
Professor in Work-Integrated Learning, Department of Health Sciences
University West, Sweden
Kristina.areskoug-josefsson@hv.se
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7669-4702