Work-based learning is expanding in many postsecondary institutions but educators say that their programs could benefit from stronger partnerships with local industries and additional funding.
In a national survey conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, postsecondary educators involved in work-based learning programs say they see strong and growing student demand for job-aligned pathways, particularly in technology-focused fields.
More than half of survey respondents, however, say their institution’s investment in efforts to combine classroom-based coursework with paid on-the-job training is smaller than its investment in traditional academics and one-third of respondents say that resources or programming for work-based learning have declined over the past five years, often citing a decrease in overall funding as a major reason.
This report examines key survey findings and highlights the policy changes that postsecondary educators say will lead to major improvements in work-based learning at their institutions.