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May 26, 2015

New initiative to boost student employability

A new initiative that prepares students for the workforce by offering practical, real-world experience outside the classroom was officially launched at UOW on Tuesday 26 May.

From mentoring Indigenous high school students and working with local companies to solve real-life business problems to volunteering at Australia’s only children’s museum, the newly launched Early Start Discovery Space, ÃÃÍÅÊÓƵx brings together more than 50 roles across 30 different programs.

ÃÃÍÅÊÓƵx allows students to receive official recognition for their co-curricular activities via a formal ÃÃÍÅÊÓƵx record and award.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Eeva Leinonen said ÃÃÍÅÊÓƵx, which was designed in consultation with more than 25 employers, would help students to build skills that are essential to the workplace.

“ÃÃÍÅÊÓƵx is an innovative co-curricular initiative. It complements learning in the classroom by building interpersonal and inter-cultural communication skills, honing leadership skills, problem solving skills and providing an insight into the business world,” she said. “The positions are wide and varied – from reporting for the University’s own TV channel, mentoring school students and advising future ÃÃÍÅÊÓƵ students to delivering health and wellbeing initiatives to fellow students.”

While studying Journalism and Arts at UOW, ABC Social Media Producer Andrew Moon undertook a number of co-curricular activities, including volunteering with the University’s TV channel ÃÃÍÅÊÓƵTV, becoming a residential advisor and getting involved in the student association.

He points to the leadership experience that he received, including running meetings, mentoring others, motivating teams as being beneficial skills he uses every day.

“I’m a massive believer in co-curricular and doing things on the side, because that is really the thing that gives you this huge edge when you go to get employment,” he said. 

For fellow alumnus Meadhbh Cacciaguidi-Fahy, the Lucy Mentoring Program, which partners female law students with high-profile female lawyers, spurred her interest in criminal law while the AIME Mentoring Program, which encourages local Indigenous students to reach their potential, marked the beginning of her ongoing support for indigenous issues.

Meadhbh’s advice to current students is to “get involved in as much as possible. It’s fun, it’s rewarding, it’s beneficial to you personally and professionally and it gives you more insight into where you want to work, what you want to do and how to do that.” 

More than 700 ÃÃÍÅÊÓƵ students have already registered their interest since the website went live in February. 

More information: uow.edu.au/student/life/uowx.