Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada launches the first-ever Co-op & Work-Integrated Learning Month, celebrating Canada's standing as a world leader in co-operative education and work-integrated learning (WIL).
The national recognition of work-integrated learning expands the former week-long spotlight with the intention of celebrating all forms of WIL and the many partners and stakeholders who support WIL for students across the country. CEWIL Canada, the country's lead organization for WIL, will have a toolkit available to help members and partners engage throughout the month and most notably, make several announcements related to its mission of promoting the highest quality of WIL programs at the college and university levels.
"CEWIL is proud to be part of a world-leading WIL ecosystem," said Cara Krezek, President of CEWIL Canada. "Our leadership in co-op accreditation, quality frameworks and best practices from many Canadian institutions and industry partners makes Canada an exciting place be a WIL practitioner, industry partner, and also a student who benefits from the many investments in WIL at national and provincial levels, and by individual post-secondary institutions, industry partners and local regions. During Co-op & WIL Month, we hope to bring together like-minded partners from across the country, who are making outstanding accomplishments in WIL with calls to action of continued leadership and celebration of the many accomplishments we share."
CEWIL Canada kicks off Co-op & WIL Month by introducing the formation of the Quality Council for Canadian Work-Integrated Learning post-secondary programs. The CEWIL Quality Council's mandate is to enhance the education of post-secondary students as they integrate academic and guided work, community and industry experiences within a WIL framework. The Quality Council, which is comprised of some of Canada's leading researchers, thought leaders, practitioners and experts in the WIL community, will work to share best practices and quality improvement guidelines that support student success, strengthen student outcomes, and encourage flexibility and innovation in higher education.
Canada's status as a world leader in WIL was reaffirmed last year when the federal government announced $631.2 million over five years to expand the Student Work Placement Program, as well as the announcement of an innovation pot of $150 million to stimulate new ideas in the Canadian WIL ecosystem. These investments are expected to generate the creation of 40,000 additional WIL opportunities every year by 2023-24 through partnerships with businesses. Meanwhile, key partners, including CEWIL Canada, will come together with the other organizations to strengthen the WIL environment.
"As the number of WIL programs increases, it's critical that we pay attention to the quality of those WIL experiences for key stakeholders," Krezek said. "CEWIL Canada is proud to be part of the process and help lead the charge in establishing quality assurances by establishing its Quality Council."
Other Co-op & WIL Month events to look forward to include the opening of registration for CEWIL Canada's annual conference, happening in July in St. John's, Co-op & WIL Student of the Year Awards, and the unveiling of new national initiatives.
Visit cewilcanada.ca to learn more about Co-op & WIL Month and CEWIL Canada's Quality Council. Students, educators, community and industry partners are encouraged to use #WILPower throughout the month to highlight their WIL events and experiences on social media.
