Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is typically defined as an educational approach using relevant work-based experiences to provide lifelong learners with the opportunity to integrate theory with the meaningful practice of work as an intentional component of the learning process.
As part of the ENGAGE.EU Alliance, WIL is implemented in practice-oriented learning activities designed for professionals to equip them with the tools they need to address societal change and engage socially. The programs build on the insights of the ENGAGE.EU Labs to provide participants with a unique learning experience, structure and methodology that enables them to find innovative approaches and sustainable solutions to future professional and personal challenges.
Challenge-based Learning in Action
The programs consist of intensive courses addressing topics linked to sustainable development. All of them are collaboratively designed and delivered by ENGAGE.EU partner universities. Each format includes a variety of activities that, in most cases, are organized around two main phases:
Input: online courses (with synchronous and asynchronous components) that provide participants with relevant knowledge, tools, and methods to tackle societal challenges.
Implementation: on-site or online bootcamps set up as workshops, where participants apply what they just learned in the input phase to collaboratively address real-life societal challenges sponsored by ENGAGE.EU stakeholders (e.g., NPOs or NGOs, municipalities or cities, companies and industry clusters).
By leveraging and combining new knowledge and skills with their existing know-how and experience, our WIL participants achieve meaningful positive impact and learn to become effective changemakers in their professional environment.
Online Info Session
If you missed our info session, you can download the slides from the event here and watch a recording below. Please contact us if you have any further questions.
Ongoing and Upcoming Programs
This intensive leadership program aims to dive into the theory and practice of leading organizations. Among the topics covered are leader traits, skills, styles, behaviors, development, and evaluation. The course is designed to address several fundamental aspects of managing and leading people in organizations. These include understanding human behavior and work motivation, inspiring trust and commitment, managing interpersonal relationships and conflict, working in teams, developing talent and other leaders, and fostering a sense of mission in the organization. In addition, some cutting-edge challenges faced by leaders in the 21st century will be examined.
Leading partner: Luiss University
When: September 2023
More information will be available soon.
This program is designed and delivered for faculty by faculty and aims to enable junior lecturers to unleash the executive education teacher within themselves. Participants will learn how to approach teaching to the target group of lifelong learners, executives and professionals with their specific needs and expectations. Internationally renowned executive education faculty will disclose their expertise and experiences, share tips, tricks and traps, and provide suggestions and feedback. Junior faculty will practice their newly acquired skills under their supervision and benefit from a highly supportive buddy system.
Leading partner: Tilburg University
When: Winter 2023
More information will be available soon.
If you want to learn more about the WIL program experience, watch the video about the ENGAGE.EU bootcamp in Vienna:
Here is what participants say about their experience...
WIL Testimonials
Past Offers
This program consisted of online sessions on the development of sustainable business models and guest lectures from practitioners in the field. In the second stage, participants worked on a challenge sponsored by an NGO active in the educational sector to experiment with and apply their new perspectives and knowledge to a specific case. During the online bootcamp, they additionally got to know the design thinking methodology and collaborate with peers from different backgrounds in an international setting to discuss and co-create ideas, prototypes, and potential solutions.
Leading partners: WU Vienna, Tilburg University
When: May 22 to June 26, 2023
- online modules: May 22 -26, 2023
- online Bootcamp: June 22 – 24 + 26, 2023
Read more and sign up here!
This course focused on the issues of sustainability and sustainable development from both a business and a societal perspective. It was targeted at practitioners from contexts facing sustainability and innovation challenges, such as social entrepreneurs, managers in the private, public, and voluntary sectors, analysts, consultants, and board members. Two input-oriented online modules were complemented by an application-oriented intensive three-day bootcamp in Toulouse.
Leading partners: NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Université Toulouse 1 Capitole
When: May 9 to June 9, 2023
online modules: May 9 – 12, 2023 (Societal Transition) and May 22 – 26, 2023 (Sustainable Business Models)
on-site bootcamp in Toulouse: June 7 – 9, 2023
Read more here!
This business development course has been tailored to those working in the cultural, artistic or creative sector who would like to found a business but do not know where to start. It aimed at teaching them how to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and how a vague idea can be turned into a feasible plan and concrete actions. Learners were given the chance to develop a viable project or business idea by the end of the course – to potentially use as a point of departure for founding their own start-up.
Leading partner: University of Mannheim
When: February 17 to June 16, 2023
Read more about this program here!
This intensive training program for junior faculty contained three deep dives into the world of executive education. The training was delivered online and offline over a period of three months and was accompanied by a supportive buddy system, enabling extensive international networking with like-minded colleagues. During the sessions, renowned senior executive education faculty shared approaches, advice, challenges and opportunities linked to teaching executives. Participants further benefited from their expertise in the form of supervision and feedback on the development of their own executive education courses. Additionally, they were able to continuously learn from each other by exchanging experiences, tips and ideas.
Leading partners: Tilburg University
When: December 9, 2022 to February 5, 2023
Read more about the project here!
In this project, learners had the opportunity to acquire new skills and perspectives while improving the performance of a charitable project at the same time. By using design thinking and knowledge about the principles of value creation, digital platforms, and linkages between ecosystems, they tackled a challenge related to the Josefbus, a volunteer project of Caritas that has been suffering under COVID-19 conditions. In preparatory online sessions, they gained the theoretical knowledge and methodologies that allowed them to develop innovative and creative solutions over the course of a four-day hands-on bootcamp in Vienna.
Leading partners: WU Vienna, Tilburg University
When: October 5 to November 7, 2022