What if a college degree isn’t the only tool or always the right tool for people to get a job – or employers to evaluate who can do the job?
That’s the challenging question that Dana Stephenson, the co-founder of Riipen and micro-intership partner of Calbright, asks in a recent article on University Business.
Employers “want evidence of real-world experience,” he said, pointing out that four out of five employers report “they’re more likely to hire recent graduates who have completed an active or applied learning opportunity during college.”
That, Stephenson said, is why work-based learning – when education blends relevant real-world experience – is increasingly recognized as a “crucial” element of education and workforce development.
Students know they need work-based learning, with more than 70% saying they enrolled in higher education to “gain skills to succeed in the workplace.”
As Calbright’s Vice President of Learning and Instruction, Shannon McCarty told education publication The EvoLLLusion: “Experiential learning isn’t optional.”
But what is effective work-based learning? The problem is that there is no common definition, and different sources use the term to refer to different things.
Stephenson’s insights are a guide to different terms and definitions, explaining the crucial distinctions between “apprenticeships” and “co-ops,” “internships” and “work-integrated learning.”
It’s important that students know what they’re asking for, and understand what they’re getting in work-based learning.
“As states, institutions and employers invest in a flurry of new models to close the education-to-career gap, higher education and workforce leaders need a shared understanding of this essential bridge between education and employment,” he says.
Stephen cites Calbright’s Career Bridge program as a national model for pairing students with paid, project-based micro-internships.
“Calbright College connects learners with real-world employer projects in high-growth fields like cybersecurity and data analytics, helping them build experience and professional networks without leaving their communities,” he notes.
It’s one of many programs at Calbright that help students get the real-word experience in industry-valued skills that sets them apart in the job market.
That benefits students like Cintia, who wanted to switch careers. As a Calbright student, she was able to get a paid internship – and says that work-based experience was a key element of her getting a job in her new industry.
“Having the constant practice, attending meetings, knowing how to communicate in the business or organizational setting – the more you do these things, the more proficient you become at doing that,” she said. “So I think that having that support and having the projects I’d done made me feel so much more confident.”
Emmalyn had a similar experience. She became a Calbright student after a layoff, looking to jump into a new career. Through Career Bridge and other internship opportunities, she got paid to learn on-the-job – and that led to real opportunities.
“I was accepted into a paid, eight-week HubSpot Academy micro-internship, diving into AI-powered marketing tools. I interned with Ignite Reading, developing digital deliverables – and received this unforgettable feedback via LinkedIn: ‘I absolutely loved your work!’” she said.
Work-based learning can make a huge difference – which is why it matters that we establish clear definitions and best practices for students and employers.
“Every student should have access to high-quality work-based learning experiences before they graduate,” Stephenson said. “And every institution should be equipped to provide those experiences.”
