Responsibilities of Businesses Participating in WBL

The best partnerships require planning, commitment, energy, and patience. They require serious focus and a defined purpose. Partnerships are worth the effort, but they require an understanding of the different business and industry cultures, including perception and valuation of time, measures of success, comfort with the work/school environment, planning/management skills, market orientation, scheduling priorities, reward structure, and an understanding of working with youth.

Business Benefits:

• Creates a pool of skilled and motivated potential employees.
• Enables organizations to develop new projects with student assistance.
• Opens the door to involvement in curriculum development.
• Provides developmental opportunities for the current workforce.
• Offers opportunities to provide community service.
• Industry experience and current demands in the working classroom.

Business Role:

• Co-create a training agreement and training plan.
• Interview students.
• Sign and abide by agreements/forms.
• Facilitate the student’s exposure to all aspects of the field.
• Orient the student to the worksite with information about business operations, performance expectations, administrative policies, and job-specific training.
• Assist the student in his/her efforts to accomplish personal and professional goals.
• Meet with the WBL coordinator during the duration of the student’s WBL experience to assess the student’s progress and address problems that arise.
• Complete formal evaluations of the student’s work and the work-based learning process.