For South African Organisations For South African Students Academic benefits such as improved academic performance, improved critical thinking and increased motivation to learn Personal benefits such as improved competencies around communication, teamwork abilities and leadership skills Career benefits such as career clarification, increased employment opportunities and the development of positive work values and ethics Skills development through increased competence and technical knowledge Increased global awareness Opportunities to give back to local communities and make a positive impact Table 3.1: Potential Benefits of adopting the WIE Approach in a South African context In the South African context, the implementation of WIE can be challenging for several reasons. Firstly, these activities can be draining in terms of time and resources with students lacking funding for transportation to off-site locations. Secondly, WIE activities are not traditionally formally embedded in curricula and tend to be organized on an ad hoc basis. Thirdly, stakeholders do not always recognize the importance of WIE and finally, organizations who do accept students for internships are often unable to pay stipends in order to cover costs. Moreover, South African students often question the value of WIE as completing the traditional WIE activities of a placement do not always translate into permanent employment opportunities and can therefore incur additional costs during their studies. Thus, a more innovative approach is required that allows a simulation that creates aspects of learning that are made from a more traditional work experience model. It is essential that WIE simulations are provided in a structured approach that aims to maximize the benefits for both students and employers to both encourage participation and improve the learning experiences of students to ultimately improve their graduate employability. WIE challenges in South Africa Develop a pipeline of skilled future employees Participate in corporate social responsibility initiatives Contribute to the sustainability of the South African economy Contribute to compliance with BroadBased Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Codes of Good Practice in terms of skills development 21
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