What is work-integrated learning (WIL)?
What if we told you there’s a way to take your learning beyond the lecture hall and into the real world? Enter work-integrated learning, your golden ticket to bridging theory with practice.
Examples could include hackathons, case competitions, short-term projects, job shadows, internships, campus jobs and volunteering, just to name a few.
Let’s break down some of the benefits
- Increased employability: WIL isn’t just a buzzword. Employers love candidates who’ve dipped their toes in the professional pool. It’s like having a “hire me” sign on your resume.
- Theory meets reality: Remember those mind-boggling theories from class? WIL lets you put them to the test. Suddenly, they make sense, and you’ve got hands-on experience and skills to show for it.
- Career exploration: WIL is your backstage pass to different career paths. You get to peek behind the curtains and decide if you’re more suited for marketing, coding, event planning — the list goes on.
- Networking: You’re probably familiar with the phrase, “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” Well, WIL lets you know the right people. You’ll get to connect with potential employers, mentors and industry experts.
What McMaster students have to say about it
My Global Experience Award was nothing short of amazing… After I received the funding I applied to do an internship opportunity with a healthcare company in the U.S. and later continued to work with the company as a part-time assistant. This opportunity allowed me to expand my networking circle outside Canada and introduce me to industry jobs in the pharmaceutical and healthcare fields. My GEA experience also allowed me to meet some incredible people, attend cutting-edge seminars in the pharmaceutical industries and also attend a conference… These experiences are super helpful in deciding whether something you’re interested in is a suitable career choice!
Nawal, fourth-year Science student
I went on a global experience this summer. I had the opportunity to work at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida and experience the magic of the company… This experience changed me as a person and helped me grow so much into the person I want to become.
Kristina, third-year Science student