Program Coordinators' Support for Student Wellbeing in Online Work-Integrated Learning (eWIL)

New Zealand Association for Cooperative Education. University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand. Tel: +64-7-838-4892; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: https://www.ijwil.org/

Y

15

College Students; Well Being; Work Experience Programs; Coordinators; Foreign Countries; Mental Health; Electronic Learning; Health Promotion

2538-1032

Student wellbeing is regarded as a salient priority across higher education. Given the growing participation of higher education students in work-integrated learning, it is important to explore how student wellbeing is being supported in this critical learning environment. While student wellbeing must be considered across all educational contexts, wellbeing may be most challenged when working and learning online. The purpose of this research, therefore, was to explore ways in which student wellbeing is supported by program coordinators when students are engaging in online work-integrated learning (eWIL). Seventeen program coordinators across Canada were interviewed and data were analyzed thematically. Thematic analysis generated three main themes: program coordinators' perspectives on their role in supporting student wellbeing, wellbeing supports offered to students engaged in WIL, and intersectional considerations for supporting student wellbeing. These findings advance the discussion of innovative and tailored approaches needed to support student wellbeing in online work-integrated learning environments.

As Provided

2023

EJ1392747