Crossing Borders: Evaluating a Work Integrated Learning Project Involving Australian and Vietnamese Students

Abstract

The value of work integrated learning (Wil) is well-established in the education of information management (im) professionals. Adding value to Wil through cross-cultural or cross-disciplinary experiences is considered in this article. using online communication, simulation activities, and onsite work, students from rmiT melbourne and rmiT ho Chi minh City were involved in planning, negotiating, and delivering specific projects in the da Nang General hospital (dNGh) in Vietnam as part of their Wil. Evaluation of the whole project was undertaken through the collection of data from an online survey which rated the importance and performance of specific elements of the project. Feedback from focus group interviews was also collected and has informed the evaluation. The analysis of the data revealed positive participant perceptions of the outcomes of the project and its importance which may be taken into consideration by similar cross-cultural projects. Work integrated learning (Wil) has long been an established principle in professional information management (im) education in Australia. At rmiT university, the practice is a mandatory part of the im degrees for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. upon graduating, im students are expected to apply their im skills in diverse information environments including libraries and records units in corporate environments. A major focus for Wil has been on the ability to transfer the skills learnt in the classroom into real work environments, particularly via work placements.in 2010, im and information Systems (iS) students in the School of business iT and logistics, located in melbourne, were given the opportunity to participate in an international work placement together with iS students from rmiT's campus in ho Chi minh City, Vietnam. The project was based at the da Nang General hospital (dNGh) in Central Vietnam. in addition to a real-life work experience, the students in ho Chi minh City and melbourne were also able to undertake simulations to develop skills and knowledge prior to commencing the project, and to experience international collaboration and crosscultural learning during the project. The latter outcomes added a level of complexity to the project and were facilitated by the use of video conferencing, Facebook, Skype, and email to communicate and plan before the two groups of students came together in Vietnam.This article describes the context for the project and its application in Vietnam, and details the methods used to evaluate the outcomes of the project and what those outcomes were. Students' reflections gathered from the focus group interviews were summarised and their responses to an online survey regarding their experiences of collaboration in the project were analysed. This data provided a rich source of information about the project organisation and collaborative aspects of it as well as the value of project. The literature reviewed is not intended to be comprehensive but rather focuses on that which informed the project in terms of simulation...

International students’ experience of practicum in teacher education: An exploration through internationalisation and professional socialisation

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Authentic Assessment Design in Accounting Courses: A Literature Review

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