Students want more work-based learning. Institutions need scalable ways to deliver it.

The college-to-career debate is intensifying.

The debate over whether students should pursue higher education or jump directly into the workforce has grown louder in recent years. On one side, some argue that skipping college allows people to begin earning earlier and potentially build wealth faster. On the other side, higher education continues to be seen as essential for developing the knowledge and skills required to succeed in today’s complex economy.

For many students, the reality sits somewhere in the middle. They recognize the value of education, yet they are also increasingly concerned about how their academic experience translates into real career opportunities.

Recent findings from Inside Higher Ed outline a 2025 Student Voice survey that clearly illustrates this tension. While most students expressed confidence that they have what they need to succeed after graduation, they also said they want stronger career-readiness efforts from their institutions.

In other words, students believe in education. They simply want it to connect more directly to the world of work.

Students want more opportunities to gain experience.

The Student Voice survey also revealed a major shift in focus toward work-integrated learning (WIL), with overwhelming demand for these opportunities. Nearly all second- and fourth-year students surveyed expressed interest in participating in some form of WIL during their studies.

According to Inside Higher Ed, students are motivated by several factors:

• Developing technical skills
• Building professional networks
• Experiencing short-term opportunities (such as job shadowing)

Showing that even brief exposure to real workplaces can make a meaningful difference. However, one interesting thing to note is pay. According to the students' survey, while pay matters, it’s not a significant motivator. Many students see these experiences as a way to better understand their field, explore potential career paths, and gain the confidence that comes from applying classroom learning in real situations.

Another factor increasing the urgency of having WIL is the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and automation. More than half of the surveyed students said these technological shifts make hands-on experience even more important as they prepare for the workforce.

Yet despite strong interest, access to WIL remains uneven. Participation gaps persist, and even students who have already completed such experiences still express a desire for more.

Demand for career-connected learning is clearly outpacing the opportunities currently available.

Why institutions face challenges expanding work-integrated learning.

Institutions widely recognize the value of experiential learning. Programs such as internships, co-ops, and project-based learning have long been considered powerful ways to prepare students for employment.

However, expanding these opportunities across an entire campus presents several challenges:

• Building and maintaining employer partnerships requires significant time and coordination.
• Faculty already manage heavy teaching and research workloads.
• Career services teams are often stretched thin.
• Traditional internship models also tend to serve only a portion of the student population, frequently those who already have access to strong networks or prior experience.

As a result, many institutions struggle to scale WIL so that every student can benefit.

This gap between student demand and institutional capacity is where new approaches are needed.

Expanding access through scalable experiential learning.

Riipen helps institutions bridge this gap by making it easier to integrate real-world projects into academic programs at scale.

As the world’s largest experiential learning marketplace, Riipen connects institutions with organizations globally, allowing students to work on real business challenges while applying what they learn in class. Instead of relying solely on traditional internships, students can participate in project-based experiences that fit directly within their courses or programs. These experiences help students deepen their understanding of their field, develop practical skills, and gain confidence in their abilities before entering the workforce.

“I would like to become a software developer. Riipen's platform has helped me work on projects to become significantly more employable and has helped me earn my current role as a Junior Data Science Analyst.”

– Umair Butt, student

For institutions, the platform simplifies sourcing employers, coordinating projects, and managing experiential learning opportunities across multiple programs.

Programs that support career readiness.

Riipen also offers training and development opportunities designed to strengthen students' and learners' career readiness.

In Canada, several programs funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) Initiative help connect students with employers working on real projects. These include:

• Riipen Labs, where students build foundational experience through shorter project-based engagements.
  
• Level UP, which connects students with employers for structured work-based learning projects.
  
• FuturePath, which supports longer and more flexible project collaborations that help students gain deeper professional experience.
  
  

Through these programs, students practice their skills, demonstrate their capabilities, and build tangible portfolio work that supports their transition into the workforce.

“[Riipen] gave me an opportunity to work in a field I’d never thought I’d be able to, and with people I never thought I’d be able to.”

— Julia-Marie Smith, student at Canadore College

Meeting student demand for career-connected learning.

Students are sending a clear message. They value their education, and they want it to connect directly to the careers they hope to build.

“Riipen is a great way to gain real-world experience, apply what you learn in class, and build confidence working on meaningful projects. [Riipen] offers practical skill development, professional connections, and insight into how academic knowledge translates into real workplace impact.”

– Hamnah Imran, student

WIL offers a powerful way to bridge this gap, helping students develop skills, build networks, and gain confidence before graduation. At the same time, institutions that expand these opportunities strengthen their ability to demonstrate student outcomes and career readiness.

The challenge is scale.

By making it easier to connect classrooms with real employer projects, platforms like Riipen help institutions expand experiential learning so that more students can benefit from career-connected education.

If your institution is looking to expand WIL opportunities and help students gain meaningful real-world experience, Riipen can help.

Connect with our team and give your students more opportunities to succeed.

About the author:

Jasmine Roberts leads the content team at Riipen as the Senior Manager of Brand and Content Marketing. With a passion for writing, Jasmine has written for over 10 Canadian publications, including ELLE Canada, Collider, Later, and more. With a love of education and higher learning, Jasmine is proud of the work Riipen does to help learners gain real-world experience to prepare for their careers.

‍