Reflections on Work Integrated Learning

Abstract

This article uses a nontraditional form to provide insight into the experiences of students and mentors during work integrated learning, through poetry pieces. Mentors play a pivotal role during the period of experiential learning, during which student exposure to the world of work has to be nurtured, thereby ensuring that the experience is mutually beneficial to both the student and the mentor. The author is one of the mentors for students engaged in work integrated learning for three months in their final year of study toward a national diploma in public management. Students and mentors reflect on their experiences through feedback reports, which constitute an important part of reviewing the work integrated learning experience. With these resources, the author explores the experiences of students and mentors through poetry. Such a qualitative approach provides valuable insight into their experiences, which underscores the impact of work integrated learning on student preparation for the world of work. Further, the poetry pieces are employed to highlight the roles and responsibilities of students and mentors in the work integrated learning relationship.