We’re living through a time of accelerated change—technological, economic, social and generational. The future of work isn’t a distant concept; it’s unfolding right now, reshaping industries and careers in real time.
As a leader in continuing education at a major Canadian university, and as President-Elect of the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE), I spend a lot of time asking: How do we prepare people not just for jobs but for lifelong adaptability? How do we help them grow with change, rather than be sidelined by it? One answer is clear: work-integrated learning (WIL).
There’s a growing narrative that WIL is suddenly essential because of the rise of artificial intelligence. And yes, AI is transforming the world of work, automating tasks, redefining roles and challenging us to rethink skills, but it’s not the only reason WIL matters. Throughout history, economic shifts, technological revolutions and changes in how we work have demanded new approaches to learning. WIL responds to these forces and to evolving learner expectations and experience, especially among adult and midcareer learners who want education that delivers immediate, tangible value. It’s equally important to employers seeking to upskill and retain talent. It also mirrors the realities of today’s workplace, where careers often span short-term contracts, hybrid teams and multiple industries. WIL prepares learners for this by strengthening adaptable, transferable skills that serve them in any role.
WIL’s true power is that it teaches people how to learn in action. It doesn’t just prepare learners for one job but for lifelong agility and transformation.
In continuing education, we serve career changers, upskillers, re-entrants to education and newcomers to Canada. They don’t need theory in isolation. They need context, clarity, traction and connection. WIL delivers all four. Whether through short-term projects, live case studies or employer-led challenges, it brings employer-driven relevance to education and momentum to learners. I’ve seen a project-based experience transform a newcomer’s confidence in weeks or a midcareer professional discover an entirely new career path because they were able to apply their skills in a real-world context. One learner told me their WIL experience turned a certificate into a career, and that’s exactly the kind of impact we should aim for.
Employers benefit too. Increasingly, organizations want to engage with talent earlier in the learning journey. A partner recently shared that their WIL collaborations have not only identified great hires but also sparked fresh thinking within their teams. When designed well, WIL provides employers with insight into emerging skills, fresh perspectives on challenges and stronger relationships with the education ecosystem.
For WIL to succeed, it can’t be a checkbox or an afterthought. It must be intentional, aligned and properly resourced. Employers need support to create meaningful, relevant experiences. Learners need coaching to show up, contribute and reflect. Educators need time and space to build partnerships that matter. This ecosystem approach takes effort, but the results speak for themselves: stronger skills, greater confidence and more relevant talent pipelines.
The old study first, work later model is no longer the norm. Today’s most impactful programs blend learning and working from the start, encouraging learners to reflect, articulate their skills and tell their professional story. In an evolving job market, that narrative power is just as critical as technical expertise. The ability to connect the dots between what you know, what you’ve done and where you want to go is a career skill in its own right. Across the country, through my network, I see incredible innovation in the WIL space, especially in nondegree programming. These programs go beyond a certificate; learners leave with a story, a network and a sense of direction.
In continuing education, we’re used to being nimble. WIL gives us the opportunity to channel that agility into long-term impact for learners, employers and communities. It’s not about scaling a feature of a program. It’s about building a foundation of learning that lives in real-world context. And this is where the challenge and opportunity lie. The conversation about WIL can’t just stay in academic circles. Industry needs to see itself as an active cocreator in this space, not just a recipient of job-ready graduates. The more we collaborate across sectors, the better we can design experiences that are responsive, inclusive, innovative and truly align with workforce needs.
So, yes, let’s talk about how AI is changing education, but let’s also talk about people, about curiosity, confidence and capability. That’s the real story. That’s where WIL lives, and that’s where continuing education can lead the way.
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