Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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    Supporting wellbeing: Perspectives of university work-integrated learning students
    (Work-Integrated Learning New Zealand (WILNZ), 2025-03-01) Hay K; Fleming J; Fleming J; Hay K
    The health of students engaging in work-integrated learning (WIL) should be a key focus of universities. WIL students encounter various personal, social, and financial pressures which impact their wellbeing, which are often different from those of an on-campus student or a workplace employee. The aim of the research was to explore student perspectives of the impact of WIL on their wellbeing, and strategies for supporting wellbeing. Using a qualitative approach, data was collected from 16 students across four disciplines and three New Zealand universities. Wellbeing is a visible construct, and this was illustrated in the participants’ ability to articulate their understanding of wellbeing. Students also emphasized that WIL experiences impact wellbeing both positively and negatively. Multiple strategies contribute to enhancing their wellbeing and these are summarized as recommendations for students, host organizations, universities, and the government. Clearly, WIL wellbeing is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the WIL enterprise.
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    Students' experiences of distress during work-integrated learning
    (Work-Integrated Learning New Zealand, 2025-02-28) Tudor R; Chilvers D; Hay K; Yeung P
    While work-integrated learning (WIL) is praised as effective for providing opportunities for knowledge, skills, and value development in authentic workplaces, student experiences may not always be positive. In New Zealand, the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Students) Code of Practice [Pastoral Care Code of Practice] (2021) requires tertiary providers ensure the wellbeing and safety of their learners. This article analyses survey data on social work students’ experiences of distress during WIL. Results suggest students experienced different distresses, but financial hardship and feeling unsupported on placement were particularly impactful. Material impacts from these and other stressors included reduced confidence, anxiety, adverse physical or mental health, and sleep disruption. The participants utilised personal strategies to manage distress and had mixed experiences of receiving information and support from their tertiary institution. To mitigate distressing experiences recommendations to improve current systems and processes as well as individual students’ experiences will be outlined.
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    Editorial: Wellbeing and work-integrated learning
    (Work-Integrated Learning New Zealand, 2025-02-28) Hay K; Fleming J; Fleming J; Hay K
    Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have important responsibilities for the duty of care of their students, and to ensure the wellbeing of students is kept front and center of curriculum and institutional developments. While the focus has primarily been on physical campuses, it is critical that these responsibilities extend to off campus activities, such as work-integrated learning (WIL). This special issue includes 11 articles focusing on the wellbeing of WIL students, with many authors drawing on empirical research. Key themes include students’ understanding of WIL wellbeing; students’ experiences of WIL and wellbeing; strategies for preparing WIL students to support wellbeing; understanding the wellbeing needs of diverse WIL students; and the important role of workplace supervisors in supporting WIL wellbeing. Several authors amplify the voices of students and all share thought-provoking teaching and curriculum strategies. All WIL stakeholders have a responsibility to support the learning success and wellbeing of students.
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    The engagement of mature distance students
    (Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2013) Kahu ER; Stephens C; Leach L; Zepke N
    An increasing proportion of tertiary students are aged 25 and over, and many of these students choose to study at a distance in order to more easily combine their studies with their family and work commitments. Higher attrition rates and lower course completion rates for this group highlight the need for a greater understanding of their student experience. To explore whether age and mode of study impact on student engagement, satisfaction, learning and departure intention, data from the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement from 1116 first-year undergraduate students from a single New Zealand university were analysed. Results confirm the influence of student engagement on both student satisfaction and learning, in particular the importance of a supportive learning environment. The findings suggest that while older and distance students are less likely to engage in active learning strategies with their fellow students, they have a much greater capacity to integrate their learning with their work experience. The finding that these students are as satisfied as the more traditional-aged, on-campus students suggests that their experience is different, but not second-rate. Universities need to build on the strengths of these students as well as provide greater opportunities for them to form collaborative relationships with similar students. Limitations stemming from the timing of the survey and the inherent limitations of cross-sectional surveys suggest the need for more in-depth longitudinal work to understand the changing nature of engagement for these students and to explore why they engage differently with their studies.