An Investigation into the Efficiency of Work Integrated Learning for the Bachelor of Communication at the Namibia University of Science and Technology

Abstract

This paper examines the industrial attachment course Work-Integrated-Learning (WIL) offered in the Bachelor of Communication programme at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) from a managerial and academic perspective to assess its efficacy. In 2011 the first group of students enrolled for WIL which is a course offered in the first semester of the final year of the programme. Before students start their journey as an intern several matters have to be attended to in the previous semester already, such as placement, administrative issues and a general orientation session about the course. This study looks into the processes, organization and administration of the course. It also reveals the nature of organization, structure, communication and monitoring strategies of the academic supervisor and examines the management by the academic supervisor who fosters the tripartite relationship among the main players (student, academic and industry supervisors) and how it promotes the flow of information and, subsequently, influences the performance of the students. In this study, I argue that the success of the course lies in the organization, management and commitment of the three parties involved, the student, the academic and industry supervisors. Therefore, the paper presents an analysis of Bachelor of Communication students success rates according to a number of variables of the enrolled students. Furthermore, the study displays a synopsis of comments about the course made by industry partners. The paper concludes with a critical commentary on the observations and makes recommendations for the way forward.