Te Herenga Waka―Victoria University of Wellington and Work-Integrated Learning New Zealand (WILNZ) are hosting the Work-Integrated Learning International Conference 2024 on 9-10 April at the Pipitea campus.

Professor Smith, whose teaching philosophy is grounded in application of knowledge, has been involved in courses with a strong application angle in both content and assessment over the last two decades.

“In MGMT 303 (Event Management) we partner with a real event as part of one of the assessments; a safe learning environment to apply some ideas and get feedback from myself, peers, and the associated event. It’s also a chance to understand theories and practice around recruiting sponsors and volunteers, and then apply it and develop a pitch presentation as if they were the event organiser,” she says.  

For example, last year students were involved in Slush’D, which was held at Rutherford House, and this year they will be involved in the return of TEDx Wellington. Other examples have included Cricket Wellington and the Newtown Festival. “All these opportunities give students an insight into the realities of event management and how the theories discussed in class apply in practice,” she says. “The assessments also demonstrate the skills employees want, such as teamwork, reflection, and communication.”

Professor Smith believes there is a role for inviting stakeholders into our spaces to give students the chance to showcase their skills in a safe environment and to start relationship building.  

Events (such as TEDx Wellington and Slush’D) where the University is already a partner means it is easy for students to volunteer. It is outside the curriculum but gives students pathways to develop networks and opportunities to see what is happening in practice.

Professor Smith highlights that there are two levels of involvement, using Slush’D as an example: “Some students volunteered on the day and had a great time, but the students that got the most out of it were the ones that were involved in the planning beforehand. It went beyond what was happening in the course, such as bringing in new sponsors for the event after party.”  

Professor Smith will be talking at the WIL conference about the opportunities for industry engagement offered to postgraduate and post-experience learners. Executive MBA candidates already have work experience so the role of WIL changes somewhat in their case. It is less about ‘developing skills’ and more about putting experiences into practice and being challenged.

In the Executive MBA Professional Development programmes, students are partnered with a not-for-profit organisation and then given a “live” challenge that the non-profit is facing. They bring their experience and knowledge to the challenge and then present back to the non-profit client. This gives students an opportunity to have a real impact.  

Professor Smith sees this as a growing focus area for the University and believes the Wellington School of Business and Government is well placed in building on this, given the necessary links to industry, and the many already-developed relationships.

Ahead of the Tuesday panel, there is also a session (Monday 8 April, 4–5.30pm) which will provide an opportunity for staff to learn more about WIL at Victoria University. It’s designed for those already involved and for those who are curious. As part of that there’ll be a student showcase, with students discussing the opportunities they’ve had.  

“We know certain types of WIL are challenging, so it’s about building more support for further opportunities. Exciting work is coming through in the BCom refresh, with embedded opportunities for community connected learning, and a focus on career learning.”

In the panel session, Professor Smith will talk about what makes a successful partnership and will look at the many strong links between WSBG, academics and professional staff, and industry. “There is a wealth of organisations in Wellington that want to work with us, the challenge is often in coordinating those.”

Professor Smith is hopeful that the University hosting the WILNZ conference will provide more profile to the work already being done, and to “kickstart more interest in activity in this area. We’ll also learn from the speakers at the conference who are academics and professionals and are active in this area. We’ll learn from other institutions.”

Following the conference, Professor Smith will end her five-year term in the Associate Dean Teaching & Learning role, taking well-earned Research and Study Leave (RSL).