President Kelly Joins Global Effort to Prepare Tomorrow's Workforce

President Marisa Kelly has demonstrated Suffolk University’s strong commitment to experiential learning and global engagement by signing the Global Cooperative & Work-Integrated Education Charter, which sets forth a strategy for educating tomorrow’s workers for “productive and rewarding employment locally, nationally, and globally.”

Kelly joined invited university, government, and business leaders to discuss expanding access to workplace-based learning experiences during the August 5 World Association for Co-operative and Work-Integrated Education (WACE) President’s Summit at the University of Cincinnati.

Those signing the charter aim to increase the number of opportunities for students to gain meaningful, international, work-integrated experiences and will develop educational offerings that enhance student intercultural fluency. 

"We at Suffolk see the impact of experiential education every day, as we offer students opportunities and experiences that move them up the socioeconomic ladder,” Kelly said. We applaud WACE for leading the effort to provide workplace-based learning to all post-secondary students. Providing pathways for our students through internships, clinical programs, service learning, international experiences and community engagement has proved to be transformational, and Suffolk is pleased to be part of a cohort dedicated to creating a more equitable world.”

Suffolk serves as a model for institutions aiming to prepare the next generation for meaningful careers. Workplace, internship, and service experiences are coordinated through Suffolk’s centers for career development and community engagement, the Law School’s clinical and pro bono programs, and faculty referrals. Students forge strong connections with professional mentors, benefiting from close proximity to Boston’s business, health care, biotechnology, and start-up industries. Sustained partnerships with the Boston Public Schools, the judiciary, Massachusetts General Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, and many other entities engage faculty and students in groundbreaking scholarship and community participation. And the University fosters international educational and work experience through its Madrid campus, travel-abroad seminars, international partnerships, and many other global opportunities.

Launching the global charter

The Global Co-Op & Work-Integrated Education Charter sets forth three calls to action:

1. Increase the number of quality global Co-Op & Work-Integrated Education opportunities for students of charter supporters so they may obtain meaningful, international, work-integrated experiences.
2. Develop and deliver educational offerings specifically designed to enhance student intercultural fluency and resilience, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion agendas.
3. Facilitate the development of a global Co-Op & Work-Integrated Education quality assurance framework.

“The Cincinnati Charter is the first of its kind to bring the educational, business, industrial, not for profit and governmental sectors together through an international commitment to the model of Work Integrated Learning,” according to a statement from WACE.

Read the charter document [PDF]