Abstract
South Africa has embarked on a National Development Plan and Vision for 2030 to
promote a triple helix partnership with education, government and industry to reduce the
unemployment rate from 27% in 2011 to 6% by 2030. In support of this national imperative
the Human Resources Management (HRM) Programme at the University of Johannesburg
pioneered a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Partnership Model to promote the employability
of graduates. The WIL model allows students to gain workplace knowledge, skills and
experience while industry partners observe the newly emerging talent in the form of future-fit
leaders entering the world of work.
Research was conducted to elicit the responses of key stakeholders on the proposed
implementation of the WIL partnership model. Qualitative focus group sessions were
facilitated with industry, academic and student groups to highlight common and profound
perspectives on participant support, concerns and questions on the implementation process.
Major findings reveal that all three groups of participants supported the implementation
of the WIL model. Industry welcomed the model as it provided opportunities for recruitment
and meeting national skills imperatives. Academics supported the model as it bridged the
theory-practice gap while meeting compliance standards. Students supported the model as they
gained workplace exposure and put theory into practice. All three participant groups expressed
concerns and raised questions on placement, indemnity, confidentiality, work preparedness,
time span, tracking processes and practice-theory alignment.