Delivering regional impact through work-integrated learning

Charles Sturt delivers work-integrated learning (WIL) as a core part of its curriculum, ensuring students build professional capability through authentic workplace experience. Supported by National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) investment, Charles Sturt led a whole-of-institution program to strengthen the scale, quality and consistency of work-based learning across disciplines. This includes placements, industry projects, virtual WIL, and community-based activities.

A key component of the program is the Social Impact Project, which delivers co-designed, student-led initiatives with industry and community partners. These collaborations address real social challenges while providing students with structured opportunities to apply their learning in meaningful contexts. The WIL program has also supported the establishment of the Asia Pacific Hub for the Community Based Global Learning Collaborative, strengthening Charles Sturt’s contribution to global community engaged learning.

Industry feedback shows the scale of this contribution. Sixty four per cent of students deliver tangible outcomes for community partners, and 88 per cent of industry partners reported they would hire our students if a role were available. One partner shared that student involvement “helped us deliver services that would not have been possible within our usual capacity”.

Partners also identified alignment with15 of the 17 SDGs, particularly education quality, partnerships, health, gender equality and reduced inequalities.

Charles Sturt is also collaborating with the Regional Universities Network (RUN) to advance a shared regional WIL agenda. This sectoral leadership strengthens consistency, improves access for regional employers and supports a coordinated national approach to partnership driven learning.

Through these initiatives, Charles Sturt has strengthened cross sector collaboration and enhanced learning experiences that directly support high quality education and robust partnerships for sustainable development.