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There's nothing so practical as a good degree
27 January, 2005
Local businesses based at the Innovation Centre are giving University of the Sunshine Coast students the opportunity to gain on-the-job experience and business know-how.
Four business students recently went beyond the call of duty, working during their university exam period and Christmas holidays as market testers for client company Calthapharm.
The students received Certificates of Appreciation from University of the Sunshine Coast Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Thomas, and Dean of the Faculty of Business, Professor Deborah Ralston.
Calthapharm's director Sara Brewer said the students undertook a variety of marketing tasks to ascertain consumer and retailer acceptance of the company's flagship product, Q-daily®. (Q-daily is a range of specially formulated products which provide complete and natural sources of vital nutrients, sourced from locally grown fruits and vegetables.)
"The students attended the retailer training evening, and conducted in-store market research and product sampling," Ms Brewer said.
"They displayed excellent commitment, attending every week, and consumers responded well to them, which enabled us to collect useful data."
The students have gained a lot of practical experience from the exercise, according to intern and Bachelor of Business (International Business) student Brad Donovan.
"It was a great experience," Mr Donovan said.
"I never expected work experience to be as enjoyable as this was; it gave us an excellent opportunity to participate in market testing for a new product. Internships are a valuable part of study - the University should encourage even more of it."
Ms Brewer came across the four enthusiastic students while attending a Business Students' Careers Forum organised by the University last year.
She used the opportunity to call for volunteers during her presentation, and students Shaun Denaro and Jamie Holland responded.
Brad Donovan and Jon Dunkley came on board after having previously worked with Calthapharm on a university assignment.
The Innovation Centre has a strong history of internships - the Innovation Centre administration has used USC student interns, and software developers Typéfi at one stage had around a dozen students working on software testing.
Kook Multimedia has used high school trainees - and one was recently employed by the company as a software programmer.