International students and work-integrated learning: overcoming challenges and looking to the future

The chapter highlights the importance of educators and industry collaborating to enhance international student employability through work-integrated learning (WIL). It considers why international student access to a quality and meaningful WIL experience remains challenging, despite this being highlighted as a key issue in both the National Strategy on WIL in University Education (Universities Australia et al., 2015) and the International Education Strategy 2025 (Australian Government, 2016). This is problematic at both an individual and broader level, and perhaps contributes to international students’ relatively weak employment outcomes and greater incidence of underemployment post-graduation. The chapter draws together current practice and existing literature to make informed recommendations on future pathways for improving international students’ access to WIL, as well as strengthening their achievements, learning, and outcomes during the WIL experience.