Recent WACE News

WACE is delighted to announce the recipients of our WACE 2024 Awards were granted at the WACE International Research Symposium (IRS) in Trollhättan, Sweden in June 2024. Congratulations to our recipients and thank you to all those who submitted nominations. 

WACE IRS 2024 Best Paper Award:

Title of the Paper: Is WIL research aligned with the sustainable knowledge society concept? A thematic analysis of the International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning 2018 to 2023
Recipients: Idris Ademuyiwa, Calahndra Brake, and David Drewery

WACE RESEARCH AWARD:

Recipient: Karsten Zegwaard

Associate Professor, University of Waikato, School of Science Teaching and Research; Director of Work-Integrated Learning Research, University of Waikato, Work Integrated Learning

GRADUATE STUDENT AND EMERGING RESEARCHER BEST POSTER AWARDS:

Recipient: Kristin Anne Bracewell

Title: Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Work Placements in PhD Education

Click here for more information.

World’s first quality framework for Work-Integrated learning

April 5, 2024

The first ever Global Quality Work-Integrated learning Framework has been released by WACE1, the international work- integrated learning (WIL) association. This framework provides guidance to tertiary institutions, industry and community partner organisations and students on quality WIL. Developed in collaboration with WACE’s international network of national associations and communities it is uniquely global in nature. The framework will prove especially useful in regions where no national quality WIL framework or guide exists.

This framework has been developed, very deliberately, to be inclusive of the diverse
WIL models being implemented globally and to accommodate a broad range of
contexts and legislative environments. Judie Kay, Vice Chair Programmes &
Partnerships, WACE

The development of the Global Quality WIL Framework was a call to action of the WACE Global Charter 2023 endorsed by over 50 associations and institutions. WACE will continue to develop the WACE Global Quality Work-Integrated learning Framework, add resources, and can provide support to institutions wanting to quality assure their WIL programmes.

We look forward to supporting the implementation of quality WIL, globally, and to
continue to evolve the WACE Global Quality Framework over time. Norah McRae,
Co-Chair, Executive Council, WACE

Ensuring quality WIL experiences for all stakeholders has never been more important. As WIL expands globally to enhance student learning and prepare graduates for increasingly dynamic work contexts, the need to ensure the quality of WIL has intensified. Quality experiences maximise WIL outcomes and is in the best interest of students, industry, and community partners as well as tertiary institutions. The WACE Global Quality Work-Integrated learning Framework provides the guidance to improve outcomes for all stakeholders.

Enquiries: Judie Kay, Vice Chair Programmes & Partnerships, WACE
Email: programspartnershipsvc@waceinc.org

Click here to learn more about the Global Quality Framework for Work Integrated Learning.

1 WACE is the only international professional organization dedicated to developing, expanding and advocating for cooperative & work-integrated education programs within industry and educational institutions.

View the February 2024 Newsletter here. 

View the October 2023 Newsletter here.

Ms. Judie Kay, WACE Vice Chair Programs & Partnerships and Chair of the WACE National Associations Committee, spoke with the National Skills Network in India to discuss the global perspective on work-integrated learning in higher education, its impact on students and the industry, as well as WACE's work in this area.

You can hear what Judie had to say by watching the interview itself on YouTube here or reading National Skills Network’s article on the interview here.

At WACE, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Professor Dr. Wichit Srisa-an, WACE's beloved Executive Council member, on September 30, 2023, in Thailand.

Professor Wichit led the development of CWIE in Thailand. He was the country's former Minister of Education and was bestowed the title ‘Father of Thai Cooperative Education’ by the Thai Government for his introduction of cooperative education to Thailand. Professor Wichit established and was acting as the President of the Thai Association for Cooperative Education (TACE) a highly effective and inspirational national association.

The WACE Executive Council and Global Strategy Council has benefitted enormously from Professor Wichit’s dedication. As co-chair of the Global Strategy Council, he led this new advisory body towards providing WACE with valuable insights and perspectives to help us become a truly global, network of networks.

Professor Wichit leaves a profound and inspirational legacy for the CWIE community across Asia and globally. He will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with Professor Wichit's family, friends, and colleagues.

Best,

WACE Office

Review the WACE World Conference 2023 conference proceedings here.

The 2023 World Conference was a huge success with the help of our conference sponsors, the University of Waterloo, and the WACE community! Over 300 delegates from 24 countries joined together at the University of Waterloo, Canada in June with 100 workshops and paper presentations to choose from. 

During the conference Gala and Awards Reception, WACE was delighted to present three major awards to recognize contributions in cooperative and work-integrated education (CWIE) around the world. The Best Paper at the conference award was also announced along with the recipients of the 2023 WACE Research Grant. Congratulations to all the awardees and recipients. For more details on our 2023 recipients, read more here.

WACE is grateful to the University of Waterloo team for their warm welcome and efforts in hosting the global WIL community after 4 long years to share practice, research, and network with colleagues from across the world.

Thank you to everyone who attended this year's conference and congratulations to the 2023 WACE Awards recipients!

View the July 2023 Newsletter here.

WACE is delighted to announce we have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the creation of a WACE Regional Office located in Thailand.

WACE has partnered with Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand to support a key principle of our vision and mission in developing partnerships that share our goals and seek to complement, support, and uplift the related work so as to support CWIE (Cooperative and Work Integrated Education) on a global scale.As the host of such an Office, SUT agrees to promote WACE membership and CWIE throughout Thailand and Asia, particularly the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), i.e. Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.