Article Gold Open Access 2020

Work-integrated learning competencies: A case study in a food engineering practice school program

International Journal of Instruction
Journal · Vol. 13 · Issue 2 · pp. 707-720
Abstract

There is increasing pressure on higher education to include work-integrated learning (WiL) in its programs in order to prepare graduates for the workplace. However, there is a lack of detailed competencies required for this type of learning. The purpose of this study was to identify competencies needed for workintegrated learning (WiL). The case study took place in a food engineering practice school program in a Thai university. It involved multiple quantitative and qualitative data-collection techniques over a period of one year including interviews, observation, focus groups and surveys. Participants included alumni, instructors, administrators, graduate students, site directors, managers, a factory CEO, support staff and mentors. Results revealed six core competencies as follows: ethics and integrity; continuous learning skills, problem-solving and research skills, leadership and teamwork skills, communication skills with English language, and knowledge of food engineering. Analysis using Pearson Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation indicated that continuous learning skills, leadership and teamwork skills and problem-solving and research skills emerged as the most important competencies. © 2020 Eskisehir Osmangazi University.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Leadership Competencies work-integrated learning Food engineering

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
College of Multidisciplinary Sciences, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Buabeng Assan, Thomas Edwin, Work integrated learning (WIL): A Phenomenographic study of student-teachers' experiences, Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5, 7, pp. 300-306, (2014)
2 National Graduate Attributes Project Integration and Assessment of Graduate Attributes in Curriculum, (2009)
3 Basadur, Min, Leading others to think innovatively together: Creative leadership, Leadership Quarterly, 15, 1, pp. 103-121, (2004)
4 Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, (2013)
5 International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, (2014)
6 Asia Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, (2011)
7 Cheng, Bo, Acceptance of competency-based workplace e-learning systems: Effects of individual and peer learning support, Computers and Education, 57, 1, pp. 1317-1333, (2011)
8 A New Academic Policy for Programmes and Qualifications in Higher Education, (2001)
9 Stakeholder Perceptions of Work Integrated Learning Analysis and Recommendations, (2005)
10 Druskat, Vanessa Urch, Managing from the boundary: The effective leadership of self-managing work teams, Academy of Management Journal, 46, 4, pp. 435-457, (2003)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
2
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers