With the ever-changing work environment and technological advancements, the skills and knowledge needed by university graduates are continually evolving. Therefore, work-integrated learning (WIL) courses designed to develop practical skills and prepare students for employment should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure their curriculum meets current industry needs. Our current study uses an action research approach to evaluate whether our WIL curriculum, which includes both lectures and practicums, (i) effectively supports students’ practicum experiences, (ii) helps develop employability skills, and (iii) ensures the skills learned match the current demands of the field. Data for the action research were collected through three rounds of surveys and focus groups (i.e., pre-WIL lecture, post-lecture/pre-practicum, and post-practicum), involving psychology undergraduate students (n=26), along with individual and group interviews with field supervisors from NGOs (n=11) conducted after the practicum. The results suggest that while our WIL course generally promotes the development of domain-general employability skills, some coursework and assignments lack relevance to the practicum and may not support preparing students for the practicum. Additionally, field supervisors noted that students’ performance during the practicum lacked domain-specific skills, including counseling assessment skills. These findings inform a curriculum redesign to better align coursework and assignments with students’ mental preparedness for practicum and essential skills development. A demonstration of the updated course curriculum will be showcased. The study highlights the need for regular, cyclical reviews to enhance the WIL curriculum, ensuring graduates are equipped for the changing demands of today’s workforce.

Authors:
Ling Fung Tony Chow, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong
Sara Tze Kwan Li, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Sara Tze Kwan Li is a Senior Lecturer and programme leader for the BSSc (Hons) in Psychology and Mental Health at Hong Kong Metropolitan University. Her research interests include music cognition, psycholinguistics, and cognitive psychology.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralitk

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sara-Tze-Kwan-Li

Additional website of interest
https://www.hkmu.edu.hk/ss/about/people/faculty-2/dr-sara-li/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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