Learning in the workplace and community overview

Work, career and future ready students at VU

Making students work, career and future ready is the aim of VU's Learning in the Workplace and Community (LiWC) Policy. VU recognises that its students want to be well equipped to gain employment and progress in their careers when they graduate from VU and that employers want graduates who not only have specialist knowledge but can apply it to the workplace as well as generic capabilities.

LiWC activities are a key feature of VU courses and programs in Vocational Education, Further Education, and Higher Education and are measured by assessments that comprise at least 25% of courses.

Learning in the workplace and community policy
Access the University's LiWC policy from the Central Policy Register

Learning in the workplace and community: Operational guidelines
Download the LiWC operation guidelines

Student equity and disability: Guidelines for learning in the workplace and community (LiWC) for students with disabilities, mental health issues and medical conditions

Practical placement guidelines for RTOs
These Practical Placement Guidelines assist Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and employers to meet their obligations with respect to arranging practical placement for students of technical and further education under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.   The guidelines are available on the Skills Victoria website at http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/corporate/providers/training-organisations

Learning the workplace and community: A short guide
Download the short guide to LiWC

Related FAQs: What is the purpose of the LiWC policy?
Related FAQs: Which courses are required to meet the policy... and which are not?
Related FAQS: What is required of courses taught offshore?

Frequently asked questions
Common questions and answers relating to LiWC at VU

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What is LiWC?

LiWC is an umbrella term which encompasses the educational activities through which students can integrate theoretical learning with practical application in a workplace, be it business, not-for-profit, community or government sectors.

LiWC learning activities present a rich range of experiences and environments that enable students to engage with practitioners, industry professionals and workplace and community settings. LiWC activities can be grouped in these broad categories as placements, projects, workers as learners and simulated workplaces, with a host of contextualised variations available in each. More about LiWC and what it is.

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Designing quality curricula

Principles of good teaching practice serve as the guide for designing curricula that embeds LiWC learning activities and assessments. The development of successful LiWC curriculum requires course/programs teams to work collaboratively to create a shared understanding and knowledge of how LiWC can used to achieve course objectives (discipline-specific as well as generic). This increases the likelihood of designing creative and sustainable approaches to LiWC. Read more about designing quality curricula.

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Assessing LiWC

Assessing LiWC requires consideration of how to best identify and measure the learning that is taking place in a context other than the classroom. Importantly LiWC assessment should include the demonstration of generic as well as technical skills and also provide for formative as well as summative assessment. Read more about assessing LiWC.

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LiWC, ePortfolios and other technology

Enhancing communication and engagement among stakeholders during LiWC assignments can be achieved through the use of blended modes of delivering curriculum and assessments such as face-to-face interaction, ectoplasm, email,video teleconferencing, WebCT, illuminate, Skype, wikis, blogs, ePortfolios and social networking. Read more about technology for LiWC.

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Preparing students for LiWC

Preparing students for their Learning in the Workplace and Community (LiWC) activities forms a vital component of VU's approach to LiWC. To help orient students to their LiWC projects and placements five online preparation modules are available and an accompanying Teachers' Guide. Read more about preparing students for LiWC.

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Evaluating LiWC activities

How effective have your LiWC activities been in delivering course outcomes, engaging and satisfying students and adding value to host organisations? A university-wide evaluation framework is being developed in accordance with the policy to assist you in measuring the quality and effect of learning in the workplace and community. Read more about evaluating LiWC activities.

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Make an enquiry

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