One function of schooling is to prepare students for the workforce – whether through soft skills pertaining to attention and discipline, or more specific skills that are gained through specialized education. However, while the classroom certainly helps us understand the workplace in theory, there are certain things that can only be learned on the job. If students can begin accruing such experience early on, then they’re already A LOT closer to successfully transitioning to the working world. This is the purpose of work-based learning programs (such as SYEP, WLG, LFL, etc.): By definition, these are initiatives which seek to provide students with structured, real-world experiences.
Benefits of Work-Based Learning Programs
The benefits of work-based learning programs for students ages 14-24 are multiple. For one, simply gaining some work experience can help young people make informed decisions about their future; it’s one thing to imagine yourself doing a job, but it’s another entirely to see what your day-to-day life could look like. Early on, this can be a helpful method of determining what works and what doesn’t, and might even influence a student’s subsequent educational path. Furthermore, work-based learning can help students to fill gaps in their knowledge, as spending some time on the job can show you what technical skills are missing from what you’re already learning in school. Overall, programs like these help participants to gain technical skills in their chosen field – and the benefits even extend to the greater community: In exchange, businesses and other employers who work with said programs help build a local talent pool.
CASW’s Work-Based Learning Programs
As an NYC non-profit dedicated to educating and uplifting youth, we are home to several programs focused on work-based learning: SYEP, Ladders for Leaders, and WLG. Our goal as an organization is to reach out to youth within the communities we serve, and put them in touch with real work experience and possible mentors that will help them on their path. At the end of the day, this is just one part of CASW’s mission to shape the next generation of leaders, both inside and outside the classroom.
