Building a capstone WIL experience one pebble at a time: using an E-portfolio to demonstrate development of WIL related competencies

The Faculty of Law, Business and the Creative Art at James Cook University has introduced three common WIL capstone subjects of which students must choose (and be accepted into), one in their final year of study. The subjects include a professional internship, multi-disciplinary industry I community project and independent project. Assessment in each of the capstone subjects requires students to compile job applications addressing the selection criteria (internship) or tender (projects) to demonstrate that the student has acquired the necessary competencies and knowledge throughout their degree to undertake the job or project. In order to prepare for this final year WIL experience, students are introduced to an ePortfolio in their first year of the degree requiring them to collect, reflect and select evidence as they progress through their degree that can be used both in the assessment in the final year WIL subjects and beyond into the world of work. Preparation for these final year WIL experiences therefore begins in a student's first semester of university. This paper will discuss the development, challenges and implementation of the ePortfolio platform for use in a whole of degree WIL program that enables students to engage in and manage their own learning from transition into and out of university