Does my study programme include workplace experience?
A growing number of employers are asking for experience before offering employment. For school leavers entering the workforce, this creates an obvious dilemma: how do you gain experience if nobody hires you first?
Increasingly, the answer lies in work-integrated learning.
Around the world, vocational education systems are strengthening the link between classroom learning and workplace application. UNESCO’s Skills and Employability has identified workplace learning as one of the most effective approaches for preparing young people for rapidly changing labour markets, particularly in technical and occupational fields.
At UXi Artisan Development, workplace exposure forms an important component of the broader learning philosophy, which combines knowledge, practical skills development and industry experience. This three-part approach aims to bridge the gap between education and employment.
Phillip Harmse, Business Development Executive at UXi Artisan Development, says workplace experience often provides learners with their first real understanding of professional expectations.
“Many learners discover that success in the workplace is about more than technical skills. Employers are looking for reliability, communication, initiative and the ability to work effectively within a team.”
Across campuses including IETI CapeTech in Cape Town, Africa Skills Pofadder in the Northern Cape and IETI BayTech in Gqeberha, learners are encouraged to engage with industry environments wherever possible to strengthen both technical and professional competencies.
Jean du Plessis, Campus Manager at IETI CapeTech, has witnessed the impact firsthand.
“After spending time in a real workplace, learners return with greater confidence and a clearer understanding of their career goals. They begin to connect theory with practical application.”
A World Economic Forum Future Workforce study has similarly highlighted experiential learning as an increasingly important contributor to future workforce readiness, particularly as industries adopt new technologies and workplace practices. The comprehensive report is available at https://www.weforum.org/publications/future-of-jobs-report-2025.
This matters because workplace experience not only improves employability but also helps learners make informed career decisions, build professional networks and develop the confidence needed to succeed in their chosen field.