Implementation of on-campus work-integrated learning activities in Vietnamese universities: 'don't rely on lecturers'

• Published in: Journal of further and higher education 2023-09, Vol.47 (8), p.1124-1139
• Main Author: Thi Ngoc Ha, Nguyen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active Learning; College Faculty; College Students; Experiential Learning; Foreign Countries; higher education; Industry; non-placement WIL; on-campus WIL; School Business Relationship; Student Attitudes; student employability; Student Projects; Teacher Attitudes; Universities; Vietnam; Work Experience Programs; work-integrated learning
• ISSN: 0309-877X; 1469-9486
• DOI: 10.1080/0309877X.2023.2217648

This article explores the rationale behind the ineffectiveness of on-campus Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) activities in three Vietnamese universities. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach that included six in-depth interviews with lecturers and 461 responses to a student survey was employed to investigate challenges facing lecturers in implementing on-campus WIL activities and student perspectives on on-campus WIL practices. Findings revealed six obstacles associated with university stakeholders facing lecturers when organising and implementing on-campus WIL activities. Survey responses underscored student preferences in experiential and project-based learning and highlighted the importance of industry engagement to on-campus WIL effectiveness. This article calls for more awareness among university department leaders, lecturers and students about the values of on-campus WIL and suggests that further work in the areas of relevant policy and practice is required for university initiatives relating to on-campus WIL to happen.