Exploring Student Experiences with Work-Integrated Learning in Undergraduate Sociology Courses

Work-integrated learning (WIL) facilitates student opportunities to bridge classroom learning with practice and is becoming increasingly popular in higher education internationally. Sociology courses provide an ideal learning space to engage in WIL, allowing for the application of sociological skills and knowledge to a practical setting. Yet, research on WIL opportunities in undergraduate and sociology courses is limited. A survey was deployed to 240 students enrolled in seven different undergraduate sociology courses that incorporated WIL during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 school years to further understand student experiences with WIL opportunities and the perceived impacts. Findings from 26 respondents revealed that students found the experience to be relevant, valuable, and an effective learning opportunity. Students experienced challenges with teamwork and communication. The study adds to the literature examining student successes and challenges related to their WIL experiences and allows for student voices to be heard in discourses of WIL.