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Managing risks in work-integrated learning programmes: a cross-institutional collaboration

Craig Cameron (Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia)
Janine Ashwell (Le Cordon Bleu, Adelaide, Australia)
Melissa Connor (Faculty of the Professions, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia)
Mary Duncan (College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia)
Will Mackay (School of Commerce, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia)
Jeff Naqvi (School of Creative Industries, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia)

Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning

ISSN: 2042-3896

Article publication date: 11 December 2019

Issue publication date: 16 April 2020

546

Abstract

Purpose

Work-integrated learning (WIL) poses legal, reputation, operational, strategic and financial risks for higher education providers (HEPs). The purpose of this paper is to explore how HEPs can manage five significant WIL risks involving intellectual property, student disability and medical conditions, the host organisation and the legal literacy of WIL practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a cross-institutional collaboration of WIL practitioners who explored risk management in WIL programmes. The case study is presented as a cross-case analysis to assist WIL stakeholders with evaluating their risk management frameworks. A description about the significance of the risk (in terms of causes and consequences), as well as practices to manage the risk, is presented under each of the five WIL risks.

Findings

WIL practitioners described a series of risk management practices in response to five significant risks in WIL programmes. Four themes underpinning these risk management practices – balance, collaboration, relationship management and resources – are conceptualised as characteristics that can serve as guiding principles for WIL stakeholders in risk management.

Practical implications

The findings can be applied by WIL stakeholders to evaluate and improve existing risk management frameworks, and to improve their legal literacy in relation to WIL. The study also demonstrates the capacity for collaborative research to address practice issues in WIL.

Originality/value

This is the first known study which employs a cross-institutional collaboration of WIL practitioners to contribute towards the body of knowledge examining risk management in WIL programmes.

Keywords

Citation

Cameron, C., Ashwell, J., Connor, M., Duncan, M., Mackay, W. and Naqvi, J. (2020), "Managing risks in work-integrated learning programmes: a cross-institutional collaboration", Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 325-338. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-05-2019-0072

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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