| Policy Number: ACAD 106 | Policy Title: Experiential Learning |
| Supersedes Existing Policy: Yes | Policy Sponsor: Senior Vice-President Academic |
| Associated Procedure: No | Policy Owner: Director, Experiential Learning |
| Next Review Date: April 2028 | Date Last Approved by the CET: April 9, 2025 |
| Related Documents |
1. Purpose
Experiential learning is foundational to the student curricular experience at Loyalist College. In its variety of forms, experiential learning provides students with the ability to transform their learning into real-world impact and career readiness. Experiential learning provides industry partners with access to exceptional student talent and creates opportunities for industry innovation and growth.
This policy articulates the college’s commitment to the valuable, diverse learning opportunities and experiences provided through experiential learning and outlines the standards of such experiences to ensure they are safe, accessible, curriculum centered and quality driven.
2. Application
This policy applies to all members of the college community engaged in experiential learning opportunities. This policy does not apply to co-curricular activities that are not embedded in program or course design such as athletics, student clubs, and summer or part-time jobs.
3. Definitions
Applied Project: Student engagement in research that occurs primarily in workplaces, including consulting projects, design projects, and community-based research projects.
Apprenticeship: An agreement between a student (an apprentice) who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker and who is willing to sponsor the apprentice and provide paid related practical experience under the direction of a certified journeyperson in a work environment conducive to learning the tasks, activities and functions of a skilled worker. Apprenticeship combines about 80% at-the-workplace experience with 20% technical classroom training, and depending on the trade, takes about 2-5 years to complete.
Capstone Project: A final academic project that allows students to apply their curricular skills and knowledge to a real-world problem to demonstrate their understanding of course concepts.
Clinical Placement: Work experience under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional (e.g. preceptor) in any discipline that requires practice-based work experience for professional licensure or certification. These are generally unpaid and, as the work is done in a supervised setting, typically students do not have their own workload/caseload.
Cooperative Education (co-op): Co-op consists of alternating academic terms and paid work terms. Co-op internship consists of several co-op work terms back-to-back. In both models, work terms provide experience in a workplace setting related to the student’s field of study. The number of required work terms varies by program; however, the time spent in work terms must be at least 30% of the time spent in academic study for programs over two years in length and 25% of time for programs two years and shorter in length.
Community Service Learning: Community Service Learning (CSL) integrates meaningful community service with classroom instruction and critical reflection to enrich the learning experience and strengthen communities. In practice, students work in partnership with a community-based organization to apply their disciplinary knowledge to a challenge identified by the community.
Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship allows a student to leverage resources, space, mentorship and/or funding to engage in the early-stage development of business start-ups and/or to advance external ideas that address real-world needs for academic credit.
Experiential learning: An educational activity that can take a variety of formats through which students learn while doing, connecting classroom knowledge with practical application.
Internships: Usually one discipline-specific, supervised, structured paid or unpaid, and for academic credit work experience or practice placement. Internships may occur in the middle of an academic program or after all academic coursework has been completed and prior to graduation. Internships can be of any length but are typically 12 to 16 months long.
Placement: An intensive part-time/short-term intensive hands-on practical experience in a setting relevant to their subject of study. Field placements may not require supervision of a registered or licensed professional and the completed work experience hours are not required for professional certification. Field placements account for work integrated educational experiences not encompassed by other forms, such as co-op, clinic, practicum, and internship.
Work Experience: Intersperses one or two work terms (typically full-time) into an academic program, where work terms provide experience in a workplace setting related to the student’s field of study and/or career goals.
Work Integrated Learning: Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a form of curricular experiential education that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with quality experiences within a workplace or practice setting.
4. Policy
Loyalist College is committed to providing students with high-quality, hands-on learning experiences that integrate classroom knowledge with practical application. Experiential learning at Loyalist College is an educational activity through which students learn by doing; applying theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. Experiential learning activities are embedded through program design within the curriculum where necessary and beneficial for the student learning experience.
Experiential learning opportunities takes place in a variety of contexts, both on-campus (e.g., classrooms, labs) and off-campus (e.g., workplace, community settings), and includes a wide variety of formats, including, but not limited to, activities such as interactive simulations, field experiences, capstone projects, and project-based coursework. These activities are designed to provide students with meaningful opportunities to connect academic learning with practical application.
In accordance with Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada, experiential learning encompasses work integrated learning (WIL), an arrangement that includes a host agent, the college, and the student to create partnerships for integrated, authentic learning opportunities. Forms of WIL recognized by the college include applied projects, clinical placements, co-operative education (co-op), field placements, service learning, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, internships, and work experiences.
Students participating in experiential learning opportunities at Loyalist College are expected to always uphold the values of the College, recognizing that they represent the institution in both academic and community settings. As part of their responsibilities, students must ensure they meet all eligibility requirements prior to the start of their experiential learning opportunity. Depending on the nature of the experience, this may include both academic and non-academic requirements. Additionally, students are accountable for completing all required documentation and meeting institutional deadlines in a timely and responsible manner.
5. Experiential Learning Standards
Loyalist College experiential learning experiences are guided by the following standards:
5.1 Curriculum-centered
Experiential learning is an essential component of Loyalist College’s curriculum, designed to enhance academic learning by providing practical applications of concepts. These curriculum-infused experiential learning opportunities ensure that students develop practical skills and gain hands-on experience that is directly relevant to their field of study. By embedding experiential learning throughout the curriculum, the college prepares students to be career-ready graduates with a strong understanding of both academic content and industry expectations. Experiential learning opportunities are in alignment with both course learning outcomes and vocational learning outcomes.
5.2 Quality-driven
Loyalist College is dedicated to ensuring that all experiential learning opportunities are relevant, high-quality, and impactful for both students and industry partners. Experiential learning is designed to create experiences that allow students to apply their classroom learning in a meaningful way, while employers and community partners benefit from the skills and energy that students contribute.
To maximize the value of these experiences, the college implements quality metrics to assess their effectiveness to ensure that these experiences meet the standards of the college and provide measurable outcomes that benefit both students and industry partners.
5.3 Accessible
Loyalist College is committed to providing equitable access to experiential learning opportunities for students. The college strives to eliminate barriers that may prevent students from participating in these valuable learning experiences. The college’s commitment to equity ensures that students can engage in high-quality experiential learning and develop the skills necessary for future success.
Loyalist College ensures that students are adequately prepared and meet necessary eligibility requirements before participating in experiential learning. This includes fulfilling academic prerequisites, completing required training and documentation, and understanding workplace expectations. Clear eligibility criteria are communicated in advance, with college employees offering proactive advising to help students navigate requirements and successfully engage in experiential learning opportunities.
5.4 Safe
Loyalist College is committed to ensuring that all experiential learning opportunities uphold the highest standards of safety for all those involved. Safety is broadly defined to encompass physical, psychological, emotional, and social well-being, recognizing that a safe learning environment is essential for meaningful engagement and success.
6. Related Documents
7. References
- Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada
- Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development