What Does It Actually Mean When Unis Talk About ‘Practical Learning’?
Not just a university of technology, but a university of real industry experience.
How many times have you seen a university spruik “applied learning” or use the term “practical experience” and thought, wait, what the flippin’ heck does this mean and why is it so important? Don’t worry – you’re not alone.
We’ve broken down everything you need to know about work integrated learning (AKA real industry experience) and why it’s your ticket to becoming *actually* employable once you graduate.
Let’s go back for a sec
It’s been A YEAR. Not only have your classes and education schedules been disrupted by COVID-19, you’ve been forced to accept and adapt to an entirely new way of learning, all while being separated from your pals. For those of you in Year 12, it’s been months of delays, disruptions, exam stress, and the uncertainty of knowing how all this may impact your future.
To add icing to the crap-cake that is 2020, you’ve also had to listen to news about layoffs, local and global economic uncertainty, and dying industries. What a time to enter the workforce!
Luckily, you’ve most likely still got time before you have to worry about that and there are ways to safeguard your future, get an early foot in the door, and gain a competitive edge before then. It all starts by combining your university degree with practical industry experience. Yep, you’ve gotta get you a uni that can do both.
Get that CV-building experience
OK, so you may be asking yourself why you have to bother with real industry experience this early in the piece when you’ve only just started (or started thinking about) your degree. That’s fair.
But the truth is, employers are looking for individuals who have soft skills (which are things like curiosity, persistence, and creativity) as well as a great understanding of their chosen field. Sure, you can write an essay, but how does that translate into the job you’ll actually be doing?
Getting involved in opportunities at uni where you can respond to briefs, work on professional-level projects, or present to a group will boost your job prospects post-graduation. In solidifying what you learn on campus in a practical setting, you’ll also have the chance to make industry connections, chat to experts, build your confidence, and graduate with relevant experience your peers may not have.
Image: Product School / Unsplash
Finding the path that works for you
Thankfully, institutions like Swinburne University of Technology offer this study-meets-industry experience option. Swinburne provides students with a whole range of opportunities to work alongside leading employers in their area of study, which counts as credit towards their degree.
At Swinburne, students can participate in work integrated learning opportunities like community and industry-linked projects, professional degrees, placements, and internships. Each option provides students with a chance to further develop the skills they’ve learned in the classroom.
Fun fact: Swinburne’s community-linked projects are tied to or aligned with not-for-profits, community organisations, and social ventures. Yay!
Image: Christina @ wocintechchat.com / Unsplash
The nitty gritty
Here’s what you need to know about the four main kinds of work integrated learning options at Swinburne to figure out which one’s right for you.
Professional degrees include a compulsory, paid, and full-time 12-month work placement that’s often completed before your final year of study.
They’re different to standard bachelor degrees, which allow you to complete a paid, full-time six or 12-month placement or a part-time, unpaid 12-week internship. In this case, placements and internships aren’t compulsory but are highly recommended because it means you’re graduating with valuable real-world experience.
And community or industry-linked projects give you a chance to take part in a challenge on campus – like a research project, concept development, or responding to an external brief – that’s relevant to your degree.
Most importantly, Swinburne assesses every employer it works with to make sure students get a valuable learning experience at a company that treats its people fairly.
No matter what you’re studying after school, take some time to research whether the universities you’re considering offer real industry experience. If they don’t, it might be time to pick again.
This article originally appeared on Junkee.
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Swinburne isn’t just a university of technology, it’s also a university of real industry experience. If you (and your CV) want to crack the employability code, here’s where you need to go.
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(Lead image: CoWomen / Unsplash)