The Experiences of Low Socioeconomic Status (SES) Undergraduate Students in the 21st Century Work Integrated Learning Practicum

Lisa Williams; Tricia McLaughlin; Kathy Jordan

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Chapter 9 The Experiences of Low Socioeconomic Status (SES) Undergraduate Students in the 21st Century Work Integrated Learning Practicum

In: Reimagining Education for the Second Quarter of the 21st Century and Beyond

Authors:

Lisa Williams

Lisa Williams
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Tricia McLaughlin

Tricia McLaughlin
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Kathy Jordan

Kathy Jordan
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 166–182

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004688490_009

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Abstract

The 21st century has seen greater emphasis upon ‘real world’ learning and employment-related practicum embedded into university programmes. A practicum or Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement has the potential to strengthen undergraduate employability and to enable informed career decision making. The strengthening of students’ work readiness and future employment opportunities through authentic experiential learning has become an important goal of tertiary education institutions worldwide. Recent global skill shortages and competitive challenges have encouraged many universities to mandate such work integrated learning experiences for undergraduates. This study explores the lived experiences of students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds and the WIL practicum within professional workplaces. Using the lens of a graduate capitals model, specifically the social and cultural capital of the low SES students to examine the data, the findings show that social and cultural capital has a significant impact on low SES students’ WIL placement experience. Specifically a lack of such capital can pose challenges to obtaining and undertaking WIL placement. However, the findings also show that a low SES student’s possession of different forms of capital, such as psychological capital (e.g., resilience, persistence) can also act as an enabler. Outcomes of this research provide a platform for recommendations to inform the development of proactive and targeted strategies that enable low SES students to have the same opportunities to benefit from a WIL placement experience as their peers, and for confident transition into the professional 21st century workplace.

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Reimagining Education for the Second Quarter of the 21st Century and Beyond

Dilemmas, Challenges, Advancements and Innovations

Series: Global Education in the 21st Century, Volume: 8

Cover Reimagining Education for the Second Quarter of the 21st Century and Beyond

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004688490

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 24 Nov 2023

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- Education
  - General
  - Learning

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Chapter 9 The Experiences of Low Socioeconomic Status (SES) Undergraduate Students in the 21st Century Work Integrated Learning Practicum

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Reimagining Education for the Second Quarter of the 21st Century and Beyond

Dilemmas, Challenges, Advancements and Innovations

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