A shared journey: uncovering support needs and challenges of health student placement supervisors to improve placement experiences

Abstract

Industry-based placements, a core work-integrated learning (WIL) practice in higher education, rely heavily on supervisors to shape student experiences. Student under-preparedness and skill gaps, compounded by ‘placement poverty’, student personal pressures, and the rapid increase in international students, may pose growing challenges for supervisors. However, limited research exists on the supervisor experience, including support needs and challenges, and whether these may differ when supporting international compared to domestic students. This research examined health placement supervisor perspectives of student preparedness for and engagement in placement and reported supervisor support needs, using mixed methods consisting of an online survey (n = 51) and semi-structured interviews (n = 5). Participants came from nine health disciplines at an Australian university. Descriptive statistics were applied to quantitative data, while inductive thematic coding was applied to qualitative data. Findings indicate supervisors value placements but identify student preparation issues and the impact of personal pressures on engagement. The study also highlights potential benefits of enhanced supervisor preparation and support. These insights offer strategies to improve placement experiences and strengthen industry-university partnerships, ultimately benefiting student success and industry engagement across WIL programs.