Taste of real life aids graduates
WORK-APPLIED learning is filling gaps left by traditional tertiary qualifications, where graduates can be criticised for having theoretical knowledge but few practical skills.
Interest in work-applied learning (WAL) is gaining momentum among students and employers, particularly in the field of management, because it is directly applicable to the workplace.
Australian Institute of Business chairman Selva Abraham said traditionally a great deal of business education had been taught in the classroom. “Armed with theories of management, graduates then enter the world of work and it is not always a happy transition,” he said.
“New employees soon find that reality looks rather different from what they had been led to expect, while employers often complain graduates are ill equipped for the work in hand.’’
At the Australian Institute of Business, which incorporates WAL in all its courses, students are encouraged to combine part-time study with work and use assessments to tackle “real world’’ problems in their workplaces.
“Business and management theory and practice go hand in hand,’’ Abraham said.
“WAL assignments should test knowledge about both realms. Business and management education thus becomes relevant and useful for managers. It is directly related to the workplace.”
Universities, when compared to TAFE and other vocational education providers, have been criticised for their inability to produce work-ready graduates.
This year, Universities Australia announced an agreement with business groups to improve the job readiness of graduates.
Universities Australia chief executive Belinda Robinson said the agreement would increase work-integrated activities such as accredited work placements, mentoring and internships.
Rhonda Olsson, offshore operations national manager with real estate information provider CoreLogic, completed an MBA with the Australian Institute of Business.
She said using WAL principles made her studies more relevant. “I managed 350 people during my MBA so I would be putting real live data in all my assignments and using the assignment to improve the business,’’ she said.