WILin Science: Leadership for WIL: Final Report 2016

WIL in Science: Leadership for WIL has successfully initiated a national movement to shift practice towards improved employability for science graduates. Conducted by the Australian Council of Deans of Science (ACDS) and funded by the Office of the Chief Scientist, the project has promoted sustainable workintegrated learning (WIL) in science programs as a means to build graduate employability. This follows upon the 2015 ACER report Work Integrated Learning in STEM in Australian Universities, commissioned by the Office of the Chief Scientist, that showed higher education courses in the natural and physical sciences to have the least industry engagement among STEM disciplines. WIL in Science: Leadership for WIL has established a national network of science WIL leaders, created a national conversation about work-integrated learning in science degrees, begun the task of building capacity to design and deliver WIL programs, and trialled approaches to WIL program development. It has raised awareness amongst faculty executives and initiated peer-to-peer mentoring between science faculties in Australian universities to create the foundations for a widespread lift in WIL leadership and WIL activity in science and mathematical sciences. It is the first step in an ongoing program to grow and support work-integrated learning in in science and mathematical sciences.