ACTE's National Work-Based Learning Conference 2026

The “first job”, once a proving ground for new graduates, is disappearing. Employers expect students to arrive with skills, experience, and networks already in hand. That shift is forcing higher education to become not just preparation for work, but the work itself. Across the country, graduates are entering the workforce only to discover gaps between what they’ve learned and what employers need. At the same time, institutions are seeking ways to improve student success, persistence, and career outcomes. 
In this session, participants will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive case study with an institutional leader and work-based learning expert, to learn the challenges, opportunities, and strategies to apply work-based learning at scale at their institutions. Faculty, administrators, and workforce partners looking to strengthen the relevance and impact of their work-based learning programs will learn practical frameworks for designing scalable opportunities that serve both students and employers.