Project phases and detailed activities
Phase One (Review) consists of a review of national and international literature in the
areas of diversity and inclusive WIL practice – including university policy documents
and procedural materials. A critical synopsis will capture current articulations of
university and government intent in this area, and more clearly highlight strategies and
gaps in relation to inclusive practice and WIL. To complement the development of this
synopsis, engagement will be sought from university leaders and policy makers to
identify current practices and perceptions.
Phase Two (Engagement) involves symposia (including focus groups and interviews),
and online webinars to develop a comprehensive multi-dimensional view of current
practice, challenges and issues that will inform the development of principles and
guidelines. To ensure the presence of the student voice in this review it is proposed that
a student questionnaire will be developed that will be distributed across all partner
institutions. The aim of the questionnaire is to gather stories and experiences of
students as they encounter WIL. Students will also be invited to participate in focus
group discussions as part of the planned symposia. At the commencement of the project
ethical clearance will be obtained from the QUT Human Ethics Research Committee,
with complementary agreement sought from partner institutions.
Phase Three (Implementation) is focused on testing the principles, guidelines and
self-assessment tool in WIL within the discipline contexts of built environment,
business and health in the partner institutions. Feedback and advice from the Project
Reference Group and the Project Evaluator will form an important aspect of this phase.
The pilots will be written up as vignettes and made available as part of the project
deliverables.
Phase Four (Dissemination) will be undertaken throughout the project (see below).
Dissemination
Whilst considered as Phase Four of the project, dissemination for the project will be
progressive throughout the lifecycle of the project, as recommended in the D-cubed
ALTC project, which undertook a review of dissemination strategies used by projects
funded by the ALTC (Gannaway, Hinton, Berry & Moore, 2011). It is proposed that
project progress reports and outcomes will be disseminated through a series of
presentations, particularly at ACEN forums and conferences. ACEN, as a supporter of
this project, will provide a repository for the project resources and deliverables on its
website. ACEN will also provide a pathway for national and international dissemination
of project outcomes through its affiliations with the New Zealand Association for Cooperative Education (NZACE) and the World Association for Cooperative Education
(WACE), and other national associations.
The symposia (including focus groups and interviews) and webinars will provide
opportunities for dissemination in the early stages of the project. The pilot testing
within partner institutions will create opportunities for dissemination within context
(Southwell, Gannaway, Orrell, Chalmers, & Abraham, 2005). Towards the conclusion of
the project, dissemination will occur through the facilitation of a series of workshops
and publications. The Project Reference Group will also serve as an avenue for
dissemination through facilitation of the sharing of information across networks.
Intended publication outcomes include:

Final report (OLT and partner institutions (including DVCs L&T)

Conference presentations, particularly ACEN National Conference (WIL
practitioners and academics, university leaders and policy makers)

Workshops and presentations of project outcomes (WIL Practitioners,
academic staff, university leaders and policy makers, employer groups,
students)

Journal publications, including publication in the Journal of Higher Education
Research and Development