Experiential Learning Grows Communities
It has long been recognized that communities are fortunate to have post-secondary institutions that can provide skilled labour for the future. Many students wish to continue to live and work in the area they study after they graduate. Employers are looking for talented people with experience, however, graduates often lack experience. This gap needs to be addressed.
At our campuses in Peterborough and Durham GTA, Trent University is expanding the opportunities for students to gain valuable workplace experience while they are working toward their degree. This is being done through several ways of providing ‘experiential learning’ that will complement the students’ academic programs by providing them meaningful and purposeful workplace experiences that will better prepare them for the workforce of the future. The new Master of Management program being offered exclusively at Trent Durham this fall will incorporate a valuable experiential work placement.
Trent University’s goal is for every graduate to have a record of their experiential learning that will supplement their official academic transcript so that prospective employers will see that they bring education and experience with them as they enter the job market.
The co-op, careers and experiential learning department at Trent helps facilitate many different forms of experiential learning for students. One form is community-based research that brings students, community organizations and faculty together to conduct research on real community issues. Trent Durham’s current partnership in the Oshawa TeachingCity initiative, which focuses its efforts on community-based collaborative projects, is just one example of a strong and growing opportunity to get involved in the community available to Trent students. There are also case studies that students can undertake that can delve into issues that are of interest to businesses and organizations and related to students’ academic programs.
Students can also undertake field experiences — domestically or internationally — that will expose them to real, work-related situations and challenges.
In professional programs students are required to engage in practical hands on experience. Many other programs, such as Child & Youth Studies at Trent Durham, offer internships and placements that provide students with supervised, work experiences.
Co-ops, which require three work terms in addition to the academic requirements of the students’ program, will also be an option for future Trent students.
With students getting great exposure to the kinds of jobs that are available in the Durham GTA and Peterborough regions, the greater the likelihood of our communities attracting and retaining talented Trent graduates. Experiential learning can only contribute in positive ways to the future prosperity of our communities.
— Dr. Tom Phillips is the interim director of co-op, careers, and experiential learning at Trent University.
This article originally appeared in Metroland on July 11, 2018
Posted on July 13, 2018