Abstract:

The purpose of this research was to analyze the extant, historical data to answer the following research question:
What is the impact of using proven active learning methods such as problem-based learning, project-based learning, and case study analysis combined with work-integrated learning experiences (such as internships/cooperative relationships/community-based service) upon job placement rates within six months of graduation and four-year Higher Education (HE) graduation rates?

Methodology:
The research methodology employs both Chat GPT Open AI and Google Bard to search thousands of university websites and government databases (such as the Federal government’s Integrated Postsecondary Ed Data System or IPEDS, the National Center for Educational Statistics, College Scorecard, College Factual, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers or NACE) for:
1. Four-year Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the U.S. that offer a curriculum that combines active learning methodologies with work-integrated learning (WIL) and
2. HEIs with 5,000 or less students that offer a curriculum that combines active learning methodologies with work-integrated learning.
The research resulted in a list of about 130 Higher Education Institutions in the US using both WIL and active learning methods. The data was then analyzed to identify for each HEI:
1. Student job placement within the first six months after graduation for the year 2021
2. Student graduation rates in the standard four-year course of study for the year 2021.

Finally, the aggregated data for HEI large schools and separately the HEI small schools of 5,000 or less students were then compared to the national job placement and graduation rates for 2021 to identify and compare the data.
Results: The results of the study indicate that there is indeed a correlation between those schools that implement proven, active learning methodologies in combination work-integrated learning opportunities regarding job placement rates that exceed the national average. The national job placement rate six months after graduation for 2021 is 55.3% (NACE) and four-year HE graduation rates average is 47% (NCES). (Tables to be provided with specific data.)

Conclusions:
Given the positive correlation between the skills developed through active learning applied in the workplace and the statistically significant increase in post-graduation job placement, the Applied Learning Strategy is proposed which leverages the combination of active learning methods and WIL enabled by technology to connect students with workplace entities thereby providing a win/win/win approach for students, HEIs, and employers.

Keywords:

hiring technology, active learning, internships, co-operatives, Work-integrated Learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning, case study analysis.