Students will gain hands-on business experience and companies will have access to extra skills and resources under an innovative collaboration between Flinders University and Business SA to be launched on Tuesday 29 March.
Flinders Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) program will place students across a range of subjects within the corporate sector with encouragement and collaboration from Business SA.
Flinders University WIL Program Manager, Ms Ceri Macleod, said the goal of the WIL program was to complement the skills and knowledge acquired by students at Flinders with workplace experience to produce ‘work ready’ graduates.
“Students can expect to link theory and practice, gain a feel for their chosen profession by experiencing it first hand, and then draw on that experience as they complete their studies,” Ms Macleod said.
Ms Macleod cited a case study of Adelaide-based IT services firm Comunet – a long-time supporter of WIL and represented at tomorrow’s launch – which has engaged five placement students as permanent employees over the past seven years.
“This new relationship with Business SA will expand the potential reach of our WIL program which can involve placements from short stints of days at a time to a block of some weeks, depending on the subject area,” Ms Macleod said.
Business SA Chief Operating Officer, Brett Mahoney, said that the partnership will provide many benefits for both students and businesses.
“Businesses want work-ready graduates and this program will provide students with employability skills and workplace experience,” Mr Mahoney said.
“Work Integrated Learning also provides a business with an extra resource that is enthusiastic and ready to pass on the latest research and information. We encourage the business community to support this initiative and identify opportunities where a student can take part in this program through providing valuable assistance in their workplace,” he said.
“It’s a win-win scenario for both students and businesses and it also provides employers with a look at the skills and suitability of students before they finish their studies, with possible avenues for future employment.”
PHOTO: Student Lambros Symeonakis, who undertook a WIL placement at Deloitte