Sustainable Work-Integrated Learning for Liberals Arts & Indigenous Students
The University of the Fraser Valley, College of Arts incorporated and enhanced WIL opportunities through their Arts Worx initiative that, using a play on words in the title, provides intentional programming to infuse Liberal Arts programs/courses with gainful WIL experiences and that prepare students to self-manage their lives, work, civic, and global participation towards equity, inclusion and diversity (EDI).
Liberal Arts faculty can sometimes be resistant when asked to align their disciplinary teaching to job skills and “work”. Likewise, despite larger global discourse, many regional employers and community agencies are uncertain about what skills Liberal Arts grads can contribute. This presentation demonstrates how the Arts Worx initiative reframed these challenges by recognizing that one-size does not fit all disciplines, and that WIL can be woven into curriculum so that it is not solely left to campus career services.
Key Learning Objectives:
Explore creative ways to increase WIL opportunities for Liberal Arts students
Illustrate WIL strategies that engage Indigenous students
Review ways to incorporate EDI into WIL
Examine strategies for influencing career development across disciplines
Develop creative ways to promote WIL in disciplines that don’t traditionally readily participate.