Be my guest speaker

Work-integrated learning (WIL) brings well-documented benefits for students, but its impact for academic staff is less evidenced. Aspects of this approach, which combines theoretical learning with practical workplace experience, can help educators as well. This is particularly the case when guest speakers are invited to share their industry knowledge and real-world experiences with students. 

Since 2015, I have been teaching a large second-year course, Economics of Business Strategy, which gives students a framework to analyse business problems and tools for management disciplines such as marketing. Over the past two years, with the assistance of the faculty’s employability adviser, I have invited an industry leader to speak to the students and share first-hand insights into horizontal and vertical integration. For example, the CEO of Scarecrow Foods, a company that sells into Australian supermarkets, highlighted scaling challenges – manufacturing, supply chain, pricing, marketing and retailer management – and growth through positioning and retail partnerships despite low brand awareness and a shrinking market. 

Following the speaker’s presentation, students work in small groups to submit a short video as a summative assessment, worth 10 per cent of the final grade. They analyse the industry that the CEO has discussed and cover key aspects such as the rationale for integration, benefits and risks, and how these opportunities fit into the company’s overall strategy as well as market trends and competitors. 

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Positive responses from students about the speaker’s presentation and the practical assessment task can confirm for the lecturer that integrating industry expertise into teaching enriches course design and delivery. Students noted that the guest speaker’s presentation provided practical, real‑world insights that complemented the theoretical content of the course, while the task developed teamwork and analytical skills.

Incorporating WIL activities into economics courses is not always straightforward; teachers may have limited access to industry partnerships or require additional time and resources to develop and manage practical learning experiences. 

However, as an educator, I have gained the following benefits from bringing guest speaker presentations into my teaching practice.

1. Industry insights and developments that can be integrated into teaching

Bringing in guest speakers from industry exposes educators, as well as their students, to current practices, challenges and examples that go beyond textbook material, which can be outdated or overly broad. Real‑world insights can include relevant and up‑to‑date applications and case studies, helping educators to create a stronger connection between theory and practice in their teaching. 

Collaborating with industry guest speakers as part of WIL can motivate educators to revise their course structure or content. Their insights have helped me identify essential skills and knowledge to incorporate into my teaching, ensuring that students acquire competencies aligned with industry demands and expectations.

Engaging with guest speakers during their presentations and discussions also enables me to broaden my understanding of emerging business practices. This continual learning adds depth to classroom conversations and strengthens my capacity to equip students for real‑world challenges. 

2. Opportunities to establish collaborative relationships with industry partners

Working with guest speakers allows teaching staff to build strategic connections with industry professionals. These partnerships enhance teaching with practical perspectives. They can also foster opportunities for research collaboration.

Universities often have dedicated career and employability units that can help educators connect with industry experts relevant to their courses. These units may have links with employers or professionals who are willing to engage with students through guest lectures or mentoring. Educators can also make use of alumni networks, as former students often have valuable industry experience and are enthusiastic about contributing to learning.

3. Enriched assessment practices 

Engaging with industry guest speakers can lead to more authentic and practical assessment tasks that mirror real workplace expectations. For instance, a guest speaker’s perspective on contemporary business practices and challenges inspired me to develop the group video-presentation assignment. This experience has improved my skills in crafting assessments aligned with industry standards, enhancing my capability to provide students with meaningful, career-relevant learning opportunities. 

4. Insights into session effectiveness

Observing students’ attention and interaction during guest speaker sessions provides me with valuable feedback on how well these sessions work as a learning tool. This helps me identify ways to improve the delivery and structure of these sessions to maximise student learning outcomes. 

Seeing students respond enthusiastically to industry guest presentations demonstrates the importance of incorporating real-world expertise into my teaching. This encourages me to continuously explore new approaches to make learning more engaging and impactful. 

Incorporating guest speaker presentations as a form of WIL provides instructors with valuable opportunities to enhance their teaching practice, build stronger connections with industry and remain responsive to the evolving needs of the workforce. These experiences support instructors’ ongoing professional growth and ensure their teaching stays relevant, engaging and aligned with authentic industry expectations.

Temesgen Kifle is a senior lecturer in the School of Economics and Salonkara Chaudhuri is a sessional lecturer, both at the University of Queensland.