Experiential Education

Types of Experiential Learning

UNB offers a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities across all faculties and both campuses. These opportunities may be embedded in programs or courses (curricular) or run outside of regular program or coursework (co-curricular).

Work-integrated learning (WIL)

    • This involves integrating academic studies with practical work experience in a real-world setting and includes engagement of a third party external to the university and student, e.g community or industry partner.
      • WIL opportunities place students in a workplace setting, where they can apply what they have learned in their academic studies to the world of work.

      • WIL connects employers from business, industry, and other organizations with students ready to apply their skills.

      • WIL gives students hands-on practice in authentic experiences, allowing them to explore meaningful career options and provide employers with fresh perspectives on problems and challenges they may face.

Community engaged learning (CEL)

  • This involves experiential activities embedded directly within a course.
    • Course based experiential learning refers to educational activities that are integrated directly into the curriculum of a course.

    • These activities are designed to provide students with hands-on, practical experiences that complement and enhance their academic learning in the classroom.

Types of experiential learning

Capstone projects are undertaken by students as a culminating activity within their credential.

Not all capstone projects are experiential, but where students undertake independent, hands-on and authentic projects for credit, often in partnership with industry or in service to the community, the capstone projects serve as a form of experiential learning.

Examples:


Involves work experience under the supervision of an experienced registered or licensed professional (e.g. preceptor) in any discipline that requires practice-based work experience for professional licensure or certification. Practica are generally unpaid and, as the work is done in a supervised setting, typically students do not have their own workload/caseload.

Examples:


Co-operative education (co-op) is one of the most recognized forms of WIL (work-integrated learning) It is an academic program in which curriculum is designed so that the student alternates study terms and work terms which include paid employment and supervision / mentorship. Work terms provide experience in a workplace setting related to the student’s field of study.

Co-op placements can be with large companies, small businesses, or non-profit organizations, depending on student interests and career goals.

Co-op programs vary by faculty at UNB. Most programs include access to additional programming, such as resume writing support and interview training.

Co-op placements are available through:


Community service learning or community engaged learning is an experience that integrates meaningful partnerships with an external community-based organization with instruction and critical reflection to enrich the student’s learning experience, teach civic and social responsibility, and strengthen communities.

Examples:


Students are engaged in real-world research projects that benefit both the student and the community and industry partners.

These projects occur primarily in workplaces, and can include: consulting projects, design projects, community-based research projects.

Example:


Allows a student to leverage resources, space, mentorship and/or funding to engage in the early-stage development of business start-ups and/or to advance external ideas that address real-world needs for academic credit.

Example:


Students work in an authentic setting to study and apply theoretical knowledge.

Provides students with an intensive part-time/short term hands-on practical experience in a setting relevant to their subject of study.

Examples:


This is a supervised, structured, placement within an organization which integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom into practical application in a professional workplace setting.

There is usually a course code associated with the internship and academic credit is earned. Financial remuneration may or may not be included

Examples:


Catalyst is a flagship offering in UNB's work-integrated learning opportunity catalogue that provides students with consulting-style WIL, tackling pressing challenges for New Brunswick businesses.

In 2024, the Catalyst program is focused on ten sectors: Healthcare, Food Production, Information Technology, Education, Construction, Forestry, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Data Analysis, and the Digital Sector, responding to key labour market and economic development challenges for the Province of New Brunswick.

Catalyst is an innovative internship program that runs in tandem with a consulting course open to all UNB students. Students work on projects through their course, with engagement from an industry partner.

Once the course is complete, students complete a three month paid internship with the industry partner on the projects as developed through their course.


Recognizes Wabanaki knowledge which fundamentally positions land as a pedagogical framework. Land-based education opportunities engage participants in critical reflection on reciprocal relations and ethical practices while using Land as the site and object of learning.

Land-based education is available in:

Examples:


A lab experience, built into a course curriculum, can provide students with hands-on opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.

Students apply concepts learned in lectures to real-world scenarios, reinforcing their understanding. Labs can reinforce the development of technical skills, such as using laboratory equipment, conducting experiments, and analyzing data.

Example:

Often embedded within a course, this teaching method engages a student or students in real-world business- or community-identified problems, often culminating in a final product or presentation.

Examples:


These teaching strategies utilize real-life examples or problems to offer a shared teaching experience.

Classes often utilize tools to simulate a particular context or situation where students work to acquire certain skills, knowledge and attitudes to critique or problem-solve.


Other experiential learning opportunities

  • Athletics
  • Student clubs
  • UNB’s co-curricular program
  • Volunteer experiences

Activities are not embedded in course design or program. May or may not be program-related.


Travel study: Students complete one or more of UNB’s academic courses while abroad for academic credit.

International exchange: Students complete one or more of a partner university’s academic courses for academic credit, cross-cultural engagement, and personal and professional development.

International service learning: International community service learning or community-engaged learning. Students reflect on course content, global and intercultural issues and their impact on global citizens and engage in cross-cultural dialogue.

Leam more: Department of Global Learning & Engagement.