Distance education has undergone a sea of transformation, especially over the last few years, from the printed correspondence courses, distance courses to the latest Work Integrated Learning Programs. The curriculum, focus, tools, methods and even pace of teaching-learning have undergone a complete transformation.
Printed correspondence courses are impersonal and rely completely on self-study. It involves the participants receiving the printed course materials through the post, studying on their own and appearing for exams. Most courses have a few contact classes wherein the participants go to study centres located in their own town/ city or a nearby location. These courses do not necessarily focus on practical application or hands-on learning. Email correspondence courses are similar, just that the material gets delivered over email instead of the post.
Distance learning was several steps ahead. Firstly, it offers shorter learning modules with clear objectives rather than chapters. It combines self-learning with video lectures and includes access to reference and extra reading materials, practice tests, projects, hands-on exposure to tools and techniques, etc. The best courses focus on the real-time application of different concepts. The best courses have innovated immensely to add a human touch.
The latest in distance learning are Work Integrated Learning Programs or WILP courses. Let us delve deeper into these courses and understand their mode of operations and their benefits.
What is WILP?
Work integrated learning programs are designed in a manner to effectively combine the academic learning of discipline with practical and industry-oriented skills, tools and techniques to enable participants to effectively apply their real-time learnings into praxis on their jobs.
These courses consist of an industry-oriented, comprehensive and in-depth curriculum that focuses as much on theoretical grounding to participants as honing practical/ application-oriented skills required to apply these theoretical concepts in their work. The best WILP programs also incorporate insights into the best practices and latest/ emerging trends in the industry along with the latest tools and techniques required to thrive in the field in the complex, globalizing business world.
Features of the best Work Integrated Learning Programs
Distance courses: The best programs are offered online through advanced ed-tech platforms. These courses offer a great deal of flexibility and convenience to working professionals to take up education while continuing work and earn.
Industry-oriented curriculum: As discussed earlier, the best Work Integrated Learning Programs have an industry-oriented curriculum that includes emerging trends and focuses on praxis and application as much as theory.
Emulate campus and classroom environment in the virtual space: The Work Integrated Learning Programs such as those offered on the talented next ed-tech platform effectively emulate the classroom and campus atmosphere in the virtual space. They do so with the help of live and interactive lectures (not recorded ones) that allow two-way communication with insightful discussions and clearing of doubts as and when they occur, one-on-one interaction opportunities with the faculty, digital library access, dedicated student support, mentoring opportunities, online student community and so on.
Real-time learning: The best courses ensure real-time, application-oriented learning. For this, they use cutting-edge technological innovations such as live and interactive lectures, simulation exercises, augmented reality and virtual reality, gamification, etc. So, that participants know how exactly theory rolls out in praxis.
Hands-on exposure: These programs ensure that the participants get hands-on exposure to the latest tools, techniques and best practices. A range of technologically-advanced pedagogical tools and learning aids are used for this purpose. Learning aids include infographics, visual aids, practice tests, gamification, etc.
Formal component: Work Integrated Learning Programs include formalized components wherein participants are required to apply their theoretical learnings into praxis such as end-term project, term paper, keystone project, etc. They are assessed and graded too. Through this component, participants can validate their knowledge and skills.
Where to study WILP courses?
The best courses are offered by top-notch universities and institutions across the globe. In India, one of the best distance education universities, Suresh Gyan Vihar University provides WILP.
TalentedgeNext offer WILP in the distance mode. They are offered in a wide array of specializations and domains such as Distance Learning MBA and its various specializations and even technical ones such as MCA (computer application), IT and computer science.
Now, let us move onto the benefits of WILP.
Benefits of WILP
Prepare you for a challenging career: Theory-oriented courses are not enough for working professionals to deal with the mounting challenges of the complex, globalizing and dynamic business world and volatile markets. Even online courses that do not give you an insight into the latest skills, tools and practices do not make the cut. They do not help working professionals to get better-paying positions or promotions or career growth. It is only Work Integrated Learning Programs that will enable them to make a great career, even in technical fields and to land challenging-yet-fulfilling and lucrative jobs. This is because, they strengthen the theoretical knowledge in an industry-approved, application-oriented manner and enable help augment practical skills to turn theory into praxis. They teach you how to leverage different techniques and latest tools on-the-job to drive your organization towards growth.
Career scope improves: Organizations look for professionals and freshers who understand how to apply their theoretical knowledge in their work and who are well-equipped to handle the different challenges on the job. The requirement is even more critical as the automatons will take over routine and mundane jobs from humans. So, only those professionals who possess skills and expertise will thrive. Therefore, taking a work integrated learning programme will give your CV a boost and fast-track career growth.
Break career stagnation: Working professionals can effectively break career stagnation and get jobs with higher pay and responsibilities.
Flexibility: These courses are designed with working professionals in mind and offer great flexibility which enables them to work and earn while they learn.
Sign up for one of these courses today!
Satendra Kashyap is an investigative journalist for Times of India, My brief writing career comprises of writing short articles for online magazines and blogs, writing features for local monthly magazines and developing marketing material for offshore clients. I’ve experience in creating engaging yet optimized content for search engines.