7-8 December, 2023 @ Hotel Sky, Sandton - Johannesburg
As the future of work continues to evolve with rapid technological advancements and other industry dynamics, the traditional approach to higher education is facing unprecedented challenges. The emphasis on employability post-graduation has become a significant concern for students, educators, and employers alike. In response to this, Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) has emerged as that pivotal strategy and a transformative educational framework that purposefully integrates classroom-based learning with relevant experiences in professional settings.
This lively and informative conference will bring together educators, employers, researchers, policymakers, and students to delve into the multifaceted aspects of WIL, including internships, co-operative programs, apprenticeships, and service learning, among others. By allowing students to participate in the workplace while still enrolled in their study programs, WIL offers them the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings, develop professional networks, and gain insight into the demands and expectations of their chosen fields.
While the core idea of the summit is to prove vital connections between experiential learning in academic settings and the successful transition of graduates into the workforce, it will also explore WIL’s input to the economic and social well-being of communities and nations. As industries and economies continue to transform, so must our approach to graduate employability.
However, for WIL to be truly effective, academia and industry must collaboratively ensure that the experiences provided are high in quality and accessible to all. It is vital to ensure that WIL placements offer genuine learning experiences rather than menial tasks in order to pave way for the next generation of industry-relevant graduates, primed to contribute effectively to the world. Continuous monitoring and updating of WIL programmes in relation to the industrial evolution is also imperative.
Join us to explore more of these evident challenges, considerations and actionable insights ensuring that graduates are not just degree-holders but industry-ready professionals.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Prof Karsten Zegwaard
Dr Roelien Brink
Prof Lalini Reddy
Stewart Samkange
Prof Wesley Rosslyn-Smith
Lizane Fuzy
Dr Charles Kimpolo
Dr Rebecca Hinds
Dr Lynn Keeys
Nicole Scoble-Williams
Professor Maurits van Rooijen
Dr Fundiswa Nofemela
Dr Henri Jacobs
Dr Nazreen Dasoo
PRELIMINARY AGENDA
1st DAY: THURSDAY, 7 DECEMBER
Registration & Welcome Refreshments
Welcome remarks by Fireside Conversations and conference chair
The Future of Work and its Implications for WIL
- The role of automation and AI
- Evolving skill requirements
- The gig economy and freelancing
Education and Employability
The more digital the world becomes, the more human that education and organizations need to become. In today’s world of perpetual disruption, we must create new maps and mental models to create future ready children, students, and workers. Explore the key shifts impacting the future of work and the role and power of collective action across government, business, education, and civil society, focusing on skills beyond the job and credentials beyond the degree, to help bridge the gap between education and employability and inspire and unlock new opportunities for all to pursue life aspirations in a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive world of work.
as Active Recruitment Partners
In today’s competitive early-talent recruiting landscape universities must adopt new and innovative ways of partnering with employers to connect them with talented student candidates. Traditional approaches from even a few years ago have changed and new ones have emerged. Now employers and university career services have access to new collaborative tools like never before.
Networking Coffee/Tea Break
Work-integrated learning and Graduate Employability through Collaboration with PMI Chapters: Work Integrated Learning and Mentoring
The Ultimate Study Abroad Experience
Industry Hybrid Programs are the future. Deep dive into the execution and impact of hybrid models of career integrated global learning. Hear about successful model programs in the US and UK that incorporate live projects, industrial challenges and case studies into a traditional classroom-based curriculum. Get advice and ideas to create your own industry hybrid program for study abroad students.
- Gain an in-depth understanding of the process to design responsive and agile curriculum
- Draft an individualized Curriculum Review Process Plan you can take back to your institution
- Discuss solutions to existing or anticipated challenges to revamping curriculum
- Understand what topics are trending, including surfacing programs and partnerships
Networking Lunch
Developing Skills for an AI Revolution and for the Jobs that Don’t Exist Yet
As we rapidly approach a future dominated by artificial intelligence and navigate an era where many job roles are yet to be defined, it’s essential to prepare ourselves with the right skills. The AI revolution demands a different set of capabilities, both technical and soft skills, that will keep us ahead in the game.
- Grasping the basics of machine learning, deep learning, and other AI technologies
- Irreplaceable human intuition and creativity in problem-solving
- Adaptability and Lifelong Learning
- Technical Proficiency
- Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Human Interaction
- Ethical Considerations and Responsibility
- Designing evaluation rubrics
- Ensuring reflection and learning from work experiences
- Integration of academic and work assessments
MID AFTERNOON BREAK
Co-curricular Global Design
How can we best equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the defining challenges of a complex, constantly changing world? We will examine two innovative approaches to curricular and co-curricular design that embrace the notion that learning how to effectively access and negotiate decisions across cultures today requires real practice. In sum, Learning by Doing
Conference Chair’s Closing Remarks
2nd DAY: FRIDAY, 8 DECEMBER
Event Check-In and Registration
Welcome remarks by Fireside Conversations and
conference chair
Authentic assessment for embedding employability skills
Using authentic assessment for building skills can be perceived as difficult and onerous due to requirements for its implementation that can be perceived as time consuming, limiting its use in small or isolated modules. This presentation aims to provide an opportunity to explore the use of authentic assessment for developing professional skills. Participants will explore questions relating to adapting module design to use authentic assessment, how to build skills at programme level, and challenges and opportunities to use this assessment method. Participants will also be able to identify strategies that can be used in their practice and leave with a step by step guide of how to use authentic assessment for embedding employability skills in modules and programmes.
A Gradlinc perspective on Graduate Employability in SA and unravelling the Gen Z mindset
The generational gap is a significant challenge in the recruitment of Gen Z and despite a youth unemployment crisis in SA, graduates appear to be picky when applying for jobs while the industry is increasingly frustrated with the lack of work-readiness among fresh hires. This session explores the mindset of Gen Z, what drives them and how they could become part of the solution to enhance their employability.
- Platforms for matching students with employers
- Using AI to personalize WIL experiences
- Digital portfolios and showcasing WIL achievements
Coffee/Tea Break
- Importance of the relationship between candidates, employers and practitioners in altering both employers’ disabling recruitment practices and to co-producing approaches to disclosure and reasonable adjustments
- The needs of candidates with disabilities, rather than the provider or the employer, being at the centre of this relationship
- How employability practitioners can focus their services on matching the right employer with the right candidate, rather than the converse.
The presentation suggests that these elements are critical to disability employment services and can help to overcome the recruitment barriers for candidates with disabilities and subsequently to improve workplace inclusion.
Identifying international fieldwork locations and partners that provide students with hands-on learning opportunities while simultaneously benefiting the local host community can be difficult. This session will explore how to put the needs of the host community first by prioritising ethical engagements while still accomplishing programmatic learning outcomes and enhancing career preparedness.
- Managing avoidable barriers to employment and how to build improved information awareness around graduate visa options and rights
- Understanding employer reluctance on the Graduate route and why there is widespread challenges on job offer withdrawal for graduates with this visa status
- Evaluating the main path to success for employability teams and how they can deliver tangible outcomes on avoidable barriers
Networking Lunch
- Exploring core push and pull factors feeding graduate migration
- How collaborative infrastructure can support graduate utilisation regionally
- Addressing regional and local skills gaps through curriculum interventions and skills development
- How are employability teams supporting graduate employment and employability regionally
Interdisciplinary challenge-led learning (ICLL) is a dynamic approach to education that transcends the limitations of traditional discipline-based learning. By focusing on real-world challenges, ICLL encourages students to harness knowledge and skills from various disciplines to devise innovative solutions. This approach prepares students for a world where complex problems cannot be solved through one lens alone.
- Engaging with community leaders, industry experts, and other stakeholders to identify pressing issues or challenges
- Fostering collaborations between departments to blend various academic perspectives
- Flexibility and project-based learning
- Designing spaces conducive to group work, brainstorming, and cross-disciplinary interaction
- Partnering with industries, NGOs, government bodies, and communities that provide real-world contexts and additional resources
The global employment landscape is undergoing dramatic shifts, shaped by factors ranging from technological advancements to evolving worker preferences. As these changes manifest, there is a pressing need for career services to adapt and equip individuals to thrive in this new environment.
- The influence of generational changes and diverse workforces
- The opportunities and challenges of a borderless world
- The rise of gig work, remote work, and the pursuit of work-life balance
- The significance of soft skills in complementing technical expertise
- Navigating the challenges of a remote and flexible work environment
- Providing guidance beyond job placements, such as well-being and personal development.
Chairperson’s Closing Remarks and Networking Opportunity
The rise of the “side hustle” isn’t just a trendy buzzword; it signifies a shift in how people view employment, financial security, and the pursuit of passion projects. The trend, fuelled by technology, economic necessity, and changing attitudes towards traditional employment, sees individuals taking on secondary (or multiple) jobs or businesses, often related to their passions or skills that may not be utilized in their primary job. The modern economy, punctuated by uncertainties like recessions or global events, can result in layoffs and income volatility. A side hustle provides an additional income stream, cushioning against financial shocks.
- Why the side hustle?
- Opportunity to develop and hone skills which might be outside the purview of one’s main job
- Testing waters before jumping headfirst into a full-fledged business
- Gaining valuable insights into the market and entrepreneurship
- Challenges of balancing a primary job, a side hustle, and personal life
- Initial investments, potential losses, and tax implications
- Legal concerns
Conference Chair’s Recap and Closing Remarks