In 2024, the BC WIL Council implemented the WIL Impacts Framework Tool across all BC public post-secondary institutions, as part of the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan. This included a survey focused on the impact of work-integrated learning (WIL) within host organizations and the BC economy across five socio-economic domains.

Project Information

Institution(s): University of British Columbia
University of Victoria
Vancouver Community College
Partner(s): British Columbia Institute of Technology, Camosun College, Capilano University, Coast Mountain College, College of the Rockies, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Justice Institute of British Columbia, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langara College, North Island College, Okanagan College, Royal Roads University, Selkirk College, Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University, University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia, University of the Fraser Valley, University of Victoria, Vancouver Community College, Vancouver Island University
Status: Complete
Project Dates: May 1, 2024 — June 30, 2025
Project Contact:
Julie Walchli, University of BC
604-827-5194
julie.walchli@ubc.ca
Project Contributors:
This project was led by a Steering Committee composed of: Andrea Giles, Julie Walchli, Rachel Warick, and Stephanie McKeown. Kamali Pahwa was the Research Analyst on the project. Julie, Walchli – Executive Director, Work Integrated Education and Student Engagement, Faculty of Arts, UBC Rachel Warick – Program Coordinator, Partnership Development Office, VCC Andrea Giles – Executive Director, Co-operative Education and Career Services, UVic Stephanie McKeown – Chief Institutional Research Officer, UBC

Understanding the socio-economic impacts of WIL students on the local BC economy and the host organizations with which they work.

During 2024, the BC WIL Council conducted research using their innovative WIL Impacts Framework, the first of its kind in Canada. The survey, completed by 1189 WIL host organizations and 272 BC post-secondary WIL professionals, focused on outcomes and captured objective metrics connecting the impact of work-integrated learning (WIL) within host organizations and the BC economy across five socio-economic domains:

  • Talent Development
  • Productivity
  • Innovation Capacities
  • Diversity and Equity
  • Community Development and Economic Impact.

The WIL Impacts Framework aligns with the call to action to improve data collection and reporting “…beyond counting WIL experiences, to focus on outcomes” from the CEWIL Canada | Academia Group March 2024 Report – Navigating New Ground: Perspectives From Canada’s WIL Ecosystem.

The survey results demonstrate that WIL has impact across all five socio-economic domains, with levels of impact varying based on WIL type and employment sector. Data gathered provides a province-wide baseline that can be used to benchmark progress and determine trends over time.

To learn more about the WIL Impacts Framework, how it was developed, and more details on each module, visit the original WIL Impacts Framework Project.

 

Results from the WIL Impacts Framework Survey 2024

Full Results (PDF)

Full results from the 2024 survey of 1189 host organizations and 272 post-secondary WIL professionals in PDF format (97 pages) with key outcomes and recommendations.

WIL Impacts Framework Survey 2024 – Full Results

Summary (PDF)

Executive summary with key results and top impacts from the 2024 survey of 1189 host organizations and 272 post-secondary WIL professionals in PDF format (2 pages).

WIL Impacts Framework Survey – Summary