Responding to COVID-19: Enriching students' responsible leadership through an online work-integrated learning project: Enriching students' responsible leadership through an online work-integrated learning project

This paper describes the design, implementation and impact of a non-placement WIL project, focusing on the development of students' responsible leadership competencies through a third-year undergraduate unit - Responsible Leadership. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the WIL project pivoted from face to face delivery to online. The WIL project was designed to provide engagement with a local non-government organization and enable the co-development of authentic learning experiences with the industry partner. Findings from the comparison of pre- and post-semester CARL (Competency Assessment of Responsible Leadership) online surveys of 107 students showed increases in the development of ethics and values; self-awareness and systems understanding as well as an increase in their knowledge and attitude action domains. With industry support to implement a systems approach to a non-placement WIL project, an impactful transition to the online environment was achieved.