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Teaching for work-integrated learning (WIL) competency is largely directed at delivering knowledge based cognitive skills with little emphasis on affective skills. This study looks at empirical evidence of WIL students through their understanding of the cognitive and affective domains. The research is based on a validated employability framework, the work skills development framework (Bandaranaike and Willison, 2009), to assess core employability competencies of 138 WIL students and feedback from 111 employers. Statistical analysis was used to compare variations in the application of cognitive and affective skills. The study concluded that whilst overall students had limited understanding of affective skills, employers emphasized the need for greater affective skills in the workplace. In order to unlock the potential of the cognitive skills and for a deeper understanding of affective skills, this research introduces the concept of emotional work-readiness as a pathway for building work-readiness capacity.

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In the current context of [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 restrictions, the perceived infection risk in healthcare facilities has resulted in limited opportunities for clinical placements. This paper aims to demonstrate how virtual WIL clinics (virtual simulated general practice clinics), provide an authentic clinical experience and to ascertain whether these virtual clinics allow the practice of generic WIL competencies. The clinics provide students with WIL experience without the face-to-face contact of a physical clinic via telehealth. The practice of WIL through virtual WIL clinics at James Cook University, Australia, is assessed using the Work Skill Development (WSD) framework via GoSoapBox surveys. Students surveyed (N=66) expressed a high level of motivation to engage, reflect and learn through this medium. The survey also highlighted some possible areas of improvement in time management and communication. Virtual WIL clinics are a suitable substitution for WIL clinical activity and ideally suited to the COVID-19 context.

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