4.2 Karsten Zegwaard, The University of Waikato

Topics discussed in this episode include:

The relatively young University of Waikato and its recent development as a work-integrated learning (WIL) institution in New Zealand.The recent re-organization of Waikato’s administrative structure that served a university-wide commitment to WIL. A discussion of other institutions who made similar broad-based commitments and how they can be implemented. The task of doing this with the faculty and in a time of a pandemic.  And finally, his having the current administrative positions, including in the Vice Chancellor’s office.The origins of the journal, its growth, and how and why it changed its name to IJWIL and how that reset the impact factor calculations.  Also, the changes over this time in WIL research going from largely practitioner-based to include more theory research-based articles as the field developed.The value of the above changes in WIL research and its role in supporting a modern WIL operation that is based on the classical authenticity for the students but now may be broadened in its definition away from just on work placements, particularly as necessitated by the pandemic.  The current research papers incude challenging topics such as assessment especially where WIL is applied broadly.The publication over years of books and handbooks with a flurry of activity happening just now at the journal and in the handbooks, despite the pandemic.How important WIL is not only to the powerful education of students and their ultimate employability, but also under increasing attention from governments and local communities who want higher education to be relevant to and interactive with their needs and how WIL can help to also achieve those outcomes.

Resources Discussed in this Episode:

https://www.waikato.ac.nz/https://www.linkedin.com/in/karsten-zegwaard/?originalSubdomain=nzhttps://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3hVLkHkAAAAJ&hl=enhttps://www.ijwil.org/https://www.amazon.com/Advances-Research-Practice-Work-Integrated-Learning/dp/036789775X

 

 

Music Credits: C’est La Vie by Derek Clegg