Intersections of outbound mobility experiences, WIL, and employability

At Western Sydney, the Schools of Business and Education have combined to research Outbound Mobility Programs (OMEs) in an OLT project. The School of Business has taken students to hotel management and tourism situations in Vietnam. The School of Education has taken pre-service teachers to teaching placements in China and Malaysia. Our OME research has built on findings that internationally-mobile students who have engaged in WIL are 50% less likely to experience long-term unemployment than those who have not implemented their training abroad (Erasmus Impact Study, 2014). We interviewed participants (n=223) before, elicited photo stories during and interviewed participants in employment who looked back on their international WIL experiences. Outcomes included developing global mindedness; learning by being there, including learning language, visiting cultural sites and experiencing life in another country; and developing employable skills. Enrichment from participating in international WIL has prompted students to engage in deeply reflective examinations of their personal and professional qualities, as well as their perceptions of the world around them. A key element in the OMEs has been the use of guided critical reflections