Monash University > News and Events > Monash Memo

Report strengthens role of work-place experience

5 August 2009

Joanne Tyler at a work site.

Fresh perspectives have led to ground breaking collaboration between universities, the community and industry in the development of effective workplace experience for university students.

Monash Director of Employment and Career Development Joanne Tyler was part of a five-member research team responsible for developing new guidelines, benchmarks, products and services to increase the opportunities for students to get real-world work experience during their degrees.

The recently-completed Australian Learning and Teaching Council project included consultation with industry groups to determine how they could better work with universities to ensure graduates were equipped to take responsibility for their careers long-term.

Ms Tyler said many workplaces still didn’t have an understanding of what makes a good career development experience for students.

"Universities are good at preparing students to learn from their workplace experience, but the workplace isn't always able to build on this preparation," Ms Tyler said.

"The final report helps to get this right, pointing to a stronger consultancy role between higher education and industry that will strengthen the organisational learning obtained from hosting students."

Work-integrated learning is available through many Monash faculties including information technology, medicine, education, and business and economics.

Ms Tyler said the ability to access work placement opportunities ensures students are career ready as well as work ready upon completion of their university studies.

For more information on the opportunities available at Monash visit the Work-Integrated Learning website.

To access the report visit the Career development in higher education website.