Dimension II: Engagement with the World of Work
Dimension II focuses on the institution’s strategic engagement with the world of work, ensuring that academic provision remains relevant, future-oriented, and closely connected to real-world practice. Through sustained collaboration with industry, government, and community stakeholders, the institution aligns curriculum design, learner development, and institutional planning with evolving workforce demands. This dimension also emphasizes meaningful work-based learning experiences that bridge theory and practice, enabling learners to graduate with the skills, exposure, and professional readiness required to succeed in dynamic employment environments.
Criterion 4:
Robust Partnerships with Industry, Government, Community
Establishes robust partnerships with industry, government, and community organizations to ensure that educational programs are relevant and aligned with real-world needs.
Capabilities
- The institution actively and regularly engages with industry, government, and societal partners to gather forward-looking insights on emerging skills needs and anticipated industry changes, and systematically integrates this intelligence into curriculum design, learner support services, and institutional planning.
- The institution consistently collects and analyses quantitative and qualitative feedback from employers that hire graduates or host interns/apprentices, using this data to inform programme development.
Key outcome
- Percentage of study programmes jointly developed in partnership with local companies.
Criterion 5:
Collaborative Projects & Internships
Designs and implements curricula that is closely aligned with current and future industry needs, ensuring that graduates possess relevant and in-demand skills.
Capabilities
- Institution fully integrates work-based learning into its internal quality assurance framework, with clear standards, evaluation mechanisms, and continuous improvement processes that ensure the relevance, rigor, and effectiveness of work-based learning experiences across all applicable programmes.
Key outcome
- Learner Placement Rate: Percentage of learner participating in internships, apprenticeships, or work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities per academic year.
Learn More About the Applied eXel Framework
For a detailed explanation of all dimensions, criteria, indicators, and the assessment approach underpinning Applied eXel, please download the full framework brochure.