Work Integrated Online Platform At University Of Wollongong Brings Students And Employers Together

The University of Wollongong (UOW) Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences (EIS) has launched a Work Integrated e-Learning Hub (WIL eHub) to provide a streamlined way for engineering and information sciences students to engage with employers and improve their job-ready skills and employability.

For industry, the WIL eHub provides a one-stop-shop to engage directly with undergraduate and postgraduate students and promote placements, internships, scholarships, mentorships and vocational programs.

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences Executive Dean Senior Professor Gursel Alici said the launch of the digital platform was well timed given the current labour market shortages, particularly in engineering and information sciences.

“The WIL eHub evolved in response to the need to better support students to engage with potential employers and to streamline the process for industry partners to promote job and student placement opportunities and improve their access to talented UOW students,” Professor Alici said.

“Previously, industry partners have relied on their relationships with individual academics within or across 11 engineering disciplines and other faculty disciplines, and haven’t had a way to engage directly with students.

“Similarly, channels for UOW to promote the opportunities to students were fragmented across email, social media and the careers job board.

“The WIL eHub solves this by providing a streamlined single portal to bring together industry, students and academics to directly offer work integrated learning opportunities and professional placements for engineering students.”

By providing a portal where employers can develop their own profiles to promote their latest developments and available opportunities, the WIL eHub will foster stronger industry partnerships.

The WIL eHub was developed by a project team led by Professor Ting Ren and Faculty Education Technology Designer Robyn Hughes in consultation with industry partners including BlueScope Steel, Wollongong City Council, South 32, Gravitas Technologies, Northrop and Cord Civil.

“The WIL eHub is expected to become an important channel of interaction and engagement with industry and the wider community for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of true partnership and reciprocity,” Professor Ren said.

UOW is dedicated to enhancing the employability of students through work integrated learning experiences such as internships, teaching and clinical placements, industry projects and experiences, workplace simulations and professional activities.

Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Student Life) Professor David Currow said UOW’s vision is to provide opportunity for every student, whether domestic or international, to engage in a variety of scaffolded, purposefully designed and learner-centred work integrated learning experiences within their degree.

“Work integrated learning enables students to enhance their employability by applying and testing knowledge and skills acquired in their tertiary studies in professional work settings,” Professor Currow said.

“It is an important element of the University of Wollongong curriculum and one of the reasons our graduates are so highly regarded by employer. UOW ranked number one in the most recent Australian Government’s Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) Employer Satisfaction Survey, which measures how well graduates from Australian higher education institutions meet employers’ needs, indicating their readiness for the workplace.

“The WIL eHub is a valuable addition to UOW’s work integrated learning program and will make it easier for students and employers to connect.

“Industry has a great opportunity to benefit from the pool of young, educated, globally aware and motivated international graduates that we have on hand. I strongly encourage new industry partners to engage with us in offering high-quality work integrated learning experiences, and to build a talent pipeline.”