How experiential learning supports the arts and humanities, and why it is important.

In today’s evolving educational landscape, arts and humanities programs face a unique challenge: how to connect their relevance to a world that is increasingly focused on economic outcomes, technical skills, skills-based hiring, and job-specific training. But as those of us in higher education know, the value of an arts and humanities degree extends far beyond career readiness. It prepares students for a lifetime of meaningful engagement, adaptability, civic leadership, and the ability to solve big problems and navigate a complex world. 

While every major requires students to master discipline-specific knowledge, arts and humanities students also acquire critical life skills that help them become “world-ready”. They learn communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking, competencies that will serve them in their professional lives, as well as enhancing their personal growth and interactions within their communities. 

In our complex world, students need diverse opportunities to practice these critical skills, both inside and outside the classroom. Providing students with opportunities to apply the skills they are learning in the classroom while navigating the ambiguity and adversity of our world, while under the guidance and support of faculty, creates the best environment for students to be prepared for what our world will throw at them. By integrating experiential learning into our arts and humanities programs, students, institutions, and communities can all benefit. 

Experiential learning is not just about jobs. 

Contrary to popular belief, work-based learning (WBL) experiences do more than just improve a student’s resume. Their true potential lies in empowering learners to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and make meaningful impact. 

Consider for example Inform Your Community, a non-profit looking to engage community members in local civic issues through authentic entertainment experiences. They partnered with my firm, Riipen, to facilitate connections with talented college students willing to help with their grant-writing efforts. The work involves interpreting requests for proposals; researching, planning, writing, editing, and revising persuasive proposal narratives; problem-solving for necessary content elements and making evidence-based recommendations; and presenting their work. If the grant proposals are successful, more communities could offer crafting events where participants can learn about important maternal health issues while creating macrame projects or attend free digital literacy sessions where experts and professionals share insights and tips. 

Or Réseau ACCESS Network, a healthcare and community service organization focused on the needs of priority populations including former drug users, women, and 2S-LGBTQIA+ communities. They turned to Riipen for assistance identifying creative young adults to help brainstorm ideas for community-driven health initiatives to promote food security and healthy eating and enhanced harm reduction services such as ways to expand peer-led harm reduction programs. 

Maine Elder Law Attorneys is another example. They needed college students who could help a local artist’s gallery that promotes community engagement and cultural enrichment, and art education in local schools qualify as a 501(c)(3) organization. The project involves researching requirements, organizing documentation, and constructing a persuasive argument to demonstrate the gallery meets the criteria for tax-exempt status.    

Experiential learning opportunities like these allow students to apply the higher-level thinking skills they’ve learned in college to pressing social issues. So, by the time these students graduate from college, they’ll be ready to contribute to the types of thriving communities that we all want to live in. 

WBL programs help fulfill institutional missions.

Students and their communities aren’t the only ones who benefit from experiential learning programs. Many liberal arts institutions include community service as part of their missions. Students in higher ed today are more diverse than ever and bring unique perspectives that need to be heard; higher education institutions want to connect their students, with their vast experiences, perspectives, and abilities, with local leaders of nonprofits, public entities, or local governments to address important social issues. 

But the logistics of launching and maintaining experiential learning programs can be a barrier for institutions. Leaders may not have the resources to develop experiential learning programs. Or they have so many competing priorities that they just don’t have the time to call city hall and wait for a return call, or to exchange a dozen emails around program logistics.  

The good news is there are mission-focused intermediaries who can help build effective experiential learning programs that support and reinforce the goals of arts and humanities programs. Trusted partners exist who will share their networks of contacts, successful experiential learning models, implementation resources, and expert advice on how to create efficient and effective experiential learning programs that create impact for learners. By leveraging these intermediaries, institutional leaders can focus on the mission, impact, and outcomes they want to achieve for their students.  

Invest in experiential learning today to develop our civic leaders of tomorrow. 

When done right, I believe experiential learning programs do more than just prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow. They develop young people into active and engaged citizens and leaders that can help shape the tomorrow we all want to live in. 

By integrating experiential learning into arts and humanities programs, students will learn to solve problems and help create thriving communities, all while developing skills that are crucial for both personal and professional growth. 

That’s why we here at Riipen are focused on bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world impact. We partner with education providers to create scalable, meaningful experiential learning opportunities that prepare all learners, including those in arts and humanities programs, for both personal and professional success. Our mission is to ensure every learner, regardless of background, has access to experiences that help them develop critical skills, build professional networks, and achieve their lifetime goals. By connecting academic institutions, learners, and employers through authentic projects, Riipen fosters innovation in education, supports community engagement, and drives measurable outcomes to improve our society.

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By Dr. Mara Woody, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Riipen

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