Stakeholder Perspectives of Experiential Education in Tertiary Institutions and Learning From COVID-19

Many universities in Canada offer experiential education (EE) opportunities for students that are both field-based and on-campus. Despite a commitment to EE, there is a paucity of information about various stakeholder perspectives of EE and the equity implications of the different approaches to EE. Furthermore, it is unclear how EE programs at universities changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions. This study aims to explore stakeholder perspectives of EE experiences and understand the shifts to EE, perhaps towards more equitable and accessible EE opportunities, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We used an exploratory case study approach involving a survey with university students, interviews with university instructors and community organizations, and a document review, to understand stakeholder perspectives and shifts to EE due to COVID-19. Findings suggest that there are consistent benefits of EE, and barriers to EE, across student, instructor, and organization perspectives, where learning from changes prompted by the pandemic could be beneficial to increase equity in EE. We recommend that instructors and institutions continue to work in partnership with students and community organizations to build virtual, on-campus, and local field-based EE (FBEE) opportunities that aim to increase equitable access and impact.