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Business graduates in demand
1 December, 2004
The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) Faculty of Business has established itself as the place to study marketing, accounting or management.
Graduates of the three business degrees are being snapped up by employers according to the Dean, Faculty of Business, Professor Deborah Ralston.
"Our business degrees have been designed with a strong focus on preparing students for success in a highly competitive job market," Professor Ralston said.
"The quality of our degrees has been recognised by industry and graduates have an almost 100 per cent employment success rate," she said.
All three degrees offer graduates membership to relevant professional bodies such as the Australian Institute of Management, CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants or the Market Research Society of Australia.
"An emphasis on developing an understanding of both large and small organisations is incorporated into each degree so graduates have the skills to work either in a large, global corporation or start up their own small business," Professor Ralston said.
Career outcomes from the degrees are varied. Opportunities for marketing graduates include marketing consultant, marketing manager, media planner or web master.
Accounting offers a selection of careers including business consultant, insurance analyst, internal auditor, registered taxation agent or stockbroker.
The management major focuses graduates on international competitiveness and offers a range of careers including business development officer, general manager or CEO, industrial relations officer, occupational health and safety officer, sales manager or small business manager.
USC Associate Professor of Marketing, Dr Michael Harker, said the reason the marketing degree was so successful is that the University asks employers what they want from graduates.
"Employers have told us they want people with strong research and strategic skills who are team players," Dr Harker said.
The importance of graduates needing strong research skills has lead to USC being the only university in Australia to include two research methodology courses and a marketing research project in its undergraduate degree.
USC's size also plays an important part in the success of its graduates.
"Because our lecture and tutorial groups are kept small, I know the students by name," Dr Harker said.
"I act as a mentor to help them through their degree and, because I know them well, I can be a personal referee when they begin looking for work."
Andrew Fairbairn is one of USC's many successful marketing graduates. The 24-year-old is employed as the Business Development Manager at Sheraton Noosa Resort and Spa.
He put in the hard yards during his degree and completed a minor in tourism as part of his marketing degree.
"My degree gave me the confidence to succeed in all aspects of my current position," Mr Fairbairn said.
Working for a global company here on the coast has opened a world of opportunities for Mr Fairbairn.
He hopes to take advantage of the Starwood's (Sheraton's) network of 750 properties world-wide and one day work overseas as a Director of Sales and Marketing for the company.
If you are considering upgrading or changing your career can still apply to enrol at USC in 2005, applications close December 13.
Call USC Admissions on (07) 5430 2876 or (07) 5430 1279 to find out how to apply.