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Submission to the Department of Education on the Universities Accord Interim Report: Equitable Access to Work-Integrated Learning
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Submission to the Department of Education on the Universities Accord Interim Report: Equitable Access to Work-Integrated Learning

Anne Hewitt, Craig Cameron, Deanna Grant Smith and Laura Grenfell
2023
url
https://www.education.gov.au/australian-universities-accord/accord-consultationsView
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Abstract

This submission focusses on the important issue of equitable access to work integrated learning (WIL). Building on decades of the widening participation agenda and calls for “a fair chance for all” that would place higher education within everyone’s reach, like the Bradley Review before it, the 2023 Interim Report emphasises the vital importance of equitable access to quality higher education. However, the Interim Report acknowledges: "New ideas must be explored to prevent excessive debt and rising student cost of living pressures from discouraging people of all ages from pursuing higher education and completing their qualifications" (p16). One of the areas in which this concern is particularly acute is in relation to work-integrated learning (WIL) and equitable access to internships. For many degrees, work-based internship placements are a mandatory requirement to attend a workplace, in person or virtually, for an extended period to gain exposure to the world of work and bridge the so-called theory–practice gap. However, while placements are believed to promote employability, for many students, especially those from equity groups, the costs of placements can be a significant financial burden. The end result is that some students cannot complete their degree or their wellbeing can be compromised. The Interim Report identifies that “mandatory WIL and clinical training requirements… often require students to forego paid work to undertake these unpaid placements. This places significant pressure on students, exacerbated for students from low SES and regional backgrounds and students (most commonly women) who have caring responsibilities” (pp59-60). Our recommendations are based on evidence of inequitable access to WIL in Australia and propose a series of practical responses to the most acute barriers to equitable access. Further explanation and context for each recommendation is provided in the body of this submission.

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