Integrated Learning - Benefits of Work-Integrated Learning For International Students

Work-integrated learning is a term for educational activities that help integrate academic learning with practical application in the workplace.

Work-integrated learning aims to inspire students and ensure that students develop the ability to integrate their knowledge through academic and work-related activities. It encourages students to embrace prospective future careers, contributing to economic innovation and growth.

Higher education is instructed to integrate work-integrated learning into curriculum and qualifications to promote student career development. This enables them to integrate theory and practice and exposes students to work and experiential learning.

Students believe higher education involves gaining the necessary skills to become future-ready for placements. But in reality, jobs in this modern age require more than just theoretical or course-specific knowledge. Graduate students need diverse skill sets to apply their understanding wherever required. Work-integrated learning program works as an experiential program providing effective learning opportunities to develop vital skills like leadership and collaboration. Students can boost their career prospects by participating in such programs and getting introduced to a network of peers and important industry contacts. It helps them support their study to career transitions.

There are a few important benefits of work-integrated learning programmes for students. Let us take a look at them.

• It helps students to build a professional identity

• It helps increase the digital literacy skills

• Helps students to learn effectively with colleagues across diverse roles

• It helps to develop an understanding of the ethical practice

• Participate in problem-solving, self-management and teamwork

• It helps enhance their academic knowledge

• It helps develop communication and transferable skills.

Some other important benefits include developing workplace culture awareness, enhancing the understanding of global and industry issues and creating awareness about the job market. 

Employers enjoy significant benefits from participating in a work-integrated learning program. It allows them to have an opportunity to save money on strategic market research while preparing students for the future of work.

Some other benefits of a work-integrated learning program are:

• Build industry, government, community partners and training organisations

• Uncover the latest insights from student teams from different disciplines and diverse backgrounds

• Share professional experience and advice with the students

It can also help employers develop their team’s skill sets, capabilities and workplace culture. It also provides opportunities to meet and attract graduate talent and establishes helpful community networks.

Work-integrated learning bridges the gap between academia and industry. There is a multitude of advantages of work-integrated education. Some of them are mentioned below.

1. Improves soft skills: Mastery of soft skills, such as communication, is a critical requirement for success in the contemporary corporate world. Work-integrated learning enables students to develop their academic and technical skills and practise and advance their varied soft skills. Students can use this to build their leadership and communication abilities and technical competence. Students will be able to develop their capacity to work in groups to accomplish a common objective through work-integrated learning, and these skills are now required to survive in any industry. These skills help you define yourself as a leader and your ability to take the initiative with the help of your colleagues.

2. Ensures holistic development: One of the most obvious justifications for teaching work-integrated learning. Work-integrated learning helps students become well-versed theoretically while also gaining practical knowledge, whereas previous learning approaches concentrated more on the theoretical side of education. It will better equip students to deal with the difficulties they could encounter in real-life working settings if they have a place to practise applying their knowledge. This overall development of the pupils will greatly aid the progress of the students' careers. You can improve your critical thinking skills through work-integrated learning, which will enable you to make better decisions in the future about your job.

3. Allows to become industry-ready: Students who participate in work-integrated learning will be given the tools they need to succeed in today's cutthroat corporate climate. While a recent study claims a significant disparity between graduate students' skill levels and those required in the industry, the widespread use of work-integrated learning can change the situation and prepare students for employment. Students who are educated about theoretical ideas and the real-world applications of their learning topics will be qualified and self-assured enough to work in the field.

4. Expands your horizon: An important benefit of work-integrated learning is the ability to broaden perspectives. It provides the opportunity to work and socialise with different people. It enhances your career growth.

If you have planned to study abroad, working while studying is a good way to help you with your financial burden and gain international exposure. Part-time jobs help enhance your resume, teach important life skills, help build a network with like-minded people and plan. Below are some best countries for international students to study and work 2023.

• Canada

• New Zealand

• Australia

• Ireland

• Spain

• France

• USA

• UK

• Germany

Regarding employability, the countries mentioned above dominate others and possess a strong potential for studying and working together.

If you are looking for integrated-work opportunities to study abroad, you can consult our expert counsellors. You can also book a FREE ONLINE COUNSELLING with us. For more information or queries, mail us at application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.