Authentic learning occurs when students are exposed to learning experiences that reflect the ‘real world’. In particular, authentic learning aims to emulate the reality and complexity of situations which typically arise in the real workplace within the students’ field of study, and which students will likely encounter in their professional careers. In principle, authentic learning is an age-old concept, rooted in the traditional apprenticeship, where apprentices (e.g., stonemasons) learnt their profession by working alongside their masters. In the 21st century, authentic learning is still very common in vocational education, where learners are being trained on the job for practical tasks and professions—in this context, learning takes place by operating within the real workplace.

In higher education, authentic learning is less prevalent, because higher education has historically ...