Key Distinguisher #4: Data and Accountability
Work-based learning is guided by student interest, labor market, and other relevant data. Stakeholders collect and utilize information on the participation, experiences, and outcomes of young people for continuous improvement efforts. There is an emphasis on metrics that reflect the prioritization of student career success and measure the institutional buy-in of work-based learning. Data is used to achieve the goals of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Key Features of Data and accountability
- Labor market information and other data are used to inform institutional and program design, based on in-demand skills and occupations.
- There is a system in place to track young people’s interests and participation in work-based learning activities.
- Stakeholders align on which key metrics for data collection as part of a continuous learning strategy that improves the quality of integrated work-based learning over time.
- There is a system for young people to organize their WBL-related output (i.e. digital portfolios, achievement of competencies, and/or a transcript of experiences) that is co-designed with and recognized by employers and educational institutions.
- There are systems in place to measure and support the academic, personal, and professional development of young people and track their labor market outcomes.
- Data is disaggregated to identify disparities between subgroups and partnerships are designed to respond with solutions that emphasize equity and inclusivity.