CEWIL Conference 2025

CEWIL Conference: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence in Work-Integrated Learning in Canada

In 2025, the CEWIL Conference marks a significant milestone: 50 years of pioneering leadership in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) in Canada. Under the theme “Reaching New Heights: 50 Years of Leading Quality WIL in Canada,” this landmark event brings together thought leaders, educators, employers, and policymakers to reflect, collaborate, and envision the future of experiential learning.

For decades, CEWIL Canada has played a foundational role in establishing national standards, promoting program excellence, and facilitating transformative opportunities for students across the country. This year’s conference is designed not only to celebrate that legacy but also to inspire new pathways forward for post-secondary WIL in an evolving global context.

CEWIL Canada: A Legacy of Innovation and Impact

Since its establishment in 1973, CEWIL Canada (formerly known as CAFCE) has been the central voice for post-secondary work-integrated learning in Canada. Its mission has always been clear: to advance quality WIL programs by supporting a national community of professional practitioners, institutional leaders, and employer partners.

CEWIL Canada champions a wide spectrum of WIL formats, including

•    Co-operative education (co-op)
•    Internships and apprenticeships
•    Applied research projects
•    Service learning and community-based experiences
•    Entrepreneurial work terms
•    Field placements and practicums

These programs bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice, empowering students to gain real-world experience while contributing meaningfully to their fields.

Reaching New Heights: Conference Theme and Vision

Reflecting on the Past, Shaping the Future

The 2025 CEWIL Conference, under the banner “Reaching New Heights,” is more than a commemorative event. It’s a forward-thinking summit aimed at redefining excellence in WIL for the next generation. The conference will explore how to sustain quality, equity, and innovation in experiential learning amid rapidly changing labour markets, technological shifts, and social expectations.

Key themes include

•    Expanding access and inclusion in WIL
•    Leveraging digital transformation in work-integrated environments
•    Strengthening industry-academic partnerships
•    Embedding sustainability and global competencies into WIL
•    Sharing best practices and success stories from across Canada

Through keynote speeches, interactive panels, and collaborative workshops, the event will provide a platform for both celebration and strategic advancement.

National Collaboration at Its Best

A hallmark of CEWIL Canada’s approach has always been its deeply collaborative structure. The organization unites members from post-secondary institutions across provinces and territories, creating a unique national forum for WIL professionals. This conference continues that spirit of partnership by convening stakeholders from every sector and region to learn from each other and develop shared strategies.

Participants at the conference can expect

•    A curated lineup of leading educators, employers, and policymakers
•    Peer-led presentations featuring innovative program models
•    Insightful case studies demonstrating impact and outcomes
•    Roundtables that promote dialogue across disciplines and institutions
•    Strategic planning sessions to guide the future of WIL

This is a rare opportunity to connect with the full spectrum of Canada's WIL ecosystem, from small colleges to major research universities, and from local nonprofits to global corporations.

Why Attend the CEWIL Conference?

For professionals committed to Work-Integrated Learning, this conference offers unparalleled value. It’s a chance to deepen your understanding of effective practices, strengthen professional networks, and contribute to national-level conversations on education, equity, and employment.

Top reasons to attend include

•    Professional development: Enhance your skills through hands-on workshops and expert-led sessions
•    Networking: Build lasting connections with peers, partners, and industry leaders
•    Recognition: Celebrate the milestones and achievements of your institution or program
•    Knowledge sharing: Learn how others are addressing common challenges in innovative ways
•    Strategic insight: Gain clarity on national trends, research, and policy developments affecting WIL

Whether you're a program coordinator, faculty member, employer partner, or student advocate, you’ll find your place in this inclusive and dynamic event.

A Commitment to Standards, Quality, and Equity

CEWIL Canada is recognized nationally for setting high standards in WIL programming. Through accreditation, research, and policy development, the organization ensures that student experiences meet rigorous educational and ethical benchmarks. The conference will spotlight tools, metrics, and frameworks that contribute to program quality across Canada’s diverse education landscape.

Equally important is CEWIL’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Sessions at the conference will highlight successful models for increasing access to WIL for underrepresented student populations and strategies for designing inclusive employer partnerships.

Looking Ahead: The Next 50 Years of Work-Integrated Learning

As CEWIL Canada celebrates its golden anniversary, the organization isn’t simply looking back—it’s paving the road ahead. The 2025 conference is set to launch new initiatives, announce research findings, and introduce strategic partnerships that will define the next era of WIL in Canada.

Attendees can look forward to

•    National research updates on the impact of WIL
•    New tools for program development and evaluation
•    Launch of collaborative pilot projects with employer networks
•    Insights into international models and global WIL collaboration

In many ways, the conference acts as a launchpad for the future, reinforcing Canada’s role as a global leader in experiential education.

A Celebration of Purpose, Progress, and Potential

The CEWIL Conference 2025 is more than a professional gathering—it’s a national celebration of five decades of impact. It represents the best of what Work-Integrated Learning offers: practical education, strong partnerships, and real-world change. It’s also a call to action for the next generation of WIL leaders, reminding us that the future of work starts with learning that matters.

Join CEWIL Canada in “Reaching New Heights”—and help shape the future of learning, working, and leading in Canada.