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Work integrated learning at USC
13 January 2007
A year ago now, the University brought out Christine Buchanan, the Dean of Students at The Robert Gordon University in Scotland, to provide advice on enhancing the employment prospects of USC students. Robert Gordon University is small by UK standards, is considered to be a regional type institution servicing small and medium-sized employers and in the past, did not have a particularly high reputation. In more recent times though, it has gained national prominence because of the outstanding employment outcomes of its graduates. One facet of this success is its approach to internships. At Robert Gordon, all students must successfully complete a substantial work placement regardless of the degree program.
Independent of Christine’s visit and expert advice, the University had already commenced a review of what we were doing with regard to activities variously called internships, work or professional placements, industry experience or practicum. We decided to package this range of different experiences under the title of Work Integrated Learning.
At the University of the Sunshine Coast, there has always been a commitment to professional/industry experience and it has been a feature of successful programs such as journalism; social and community work; and information technology. Competence in the workplace is a core component of the curriculum in our professional programs such as teaching and nursing, and will also be a feature of the new social work and nutrition and dietetics degrees commencing this year. However, in career areas not controlled by external registration requirements, there are usually no set guidelines, and many students completing such degrees do not include work placements into their study programs. Employers, on the other hand, consistently convey the message that they prefer employees who have relevant work experience in addition to a degree. While the University has been conscious of the tension between academic quality and work readiness, we also saw the opportunity to provide graduates with a competitive edge by mixing the two, and have this approach available across most programs.
Over the last year substantial progress has been made in seeing this all happen. An Internships Officer position has been created within Student Services to coordinate activities within the University and act as an interface between the University and community. There has also been an expansion of placement officer positions in the faculties. The process of reviewing degree structures is progressing rapidly. Within the suite of science degrees, all students have access to work place learning courses that range from a single course up to a full semester placement (four courses). Bachelor of Business students have access to a work placement course in areas like tourism, marketing and information systems. Within the Bachelor of Arts, production workshops, industry projects and internships are available in a range of specialist areas.
Future students will have enhanced opportunities to incorporate relevant workplace experience into degree level studies. In addition to improving graduate career prospects, the program will forge closer ties between the University, employers and the community. The potential spin-off benefits are substantial. Employers will be better placed to provide input to curriculum reviews and they will, of course, be able to observe potential future employees in the workplace. For our region, where the economy is dominated by small businesses, it may also provide employers with an answer to the question, “What would I do with a graduate?”
Professor Greg Hill is Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast.