Experiential Education
What is Experiential Education?
Experiential education goes by different names, internships, co-ops, practical experiences, research experiences, field experiences, etc. but the one thing they all have in common is they give students valuable career-related experiences that makes a difference in post-graduate employment.
How does experiential education connect to the mission of Xavier University?
The variations of active learning can be encapsulated in one term, experiential education, which is “a process through which a learner constructs knowledge, skill, and value from direct experiences.” The activities that constitute experiential education are consistent with, and in many ways central to, the mission of the university. Building critical thinkers, who are sensitive and responsive to both the requirements of their chosen career and their responsibilities to the larger communities they inhabit, is increasingly important in higher education. We understand that internships operate differently from co-ops, practica, and other experiences but also recognize their connectedness to other opportunities under experiential education as well.