Flinders University has developed a course to better equip students to enter the workforce in response to business demand for more job-ready graduates.
The introduction of the course has reignited debate about who is responsible for the job readiness of graduates - the universities, employers, the graduates themselves, or the three collectively.
The Graduate Certificate in Professional Studies (Business), which begins at Flinders in February, is open to those with a tertiary degree. The part-time, 18-unit program includes theoretical study in topics such as communication skills and law, as well as work placements.
Flinders Business School Dean Angele Cavaye said industry was “crying out” for skills which universities did not traditionally provide.
“There’s pulling to and fro about who is responsible to make people job ready,” Professor Cavaye said.
“Somewhat grudgingly, universities, including business schools, are doing a lot more (about this issue).
We do feel we have a role to make sure our students are employable (but) it’s important for business to provide mentoring programs.”
Only 30 places would be offered for the February intake. Professor Cavaye said the skills and information in the program would hopefully become part of undergraduate course curriculum.
“Hopefully (this teaching) would be embedded into undergraduate courses and that three or four years ahead there won’t be a great need for this sort of graduate certificate,” she said.
Head of the University of Adelaide’s business school Barry Burgan said the skills being taught in the Flinders course were already covered in a range of its programs, including diplomas and masters degrees.
Associate Professor Burgan said the responsibility for the job readiness of graduates should be shared between the university, employers and the students themselves.
“Some of (the learning) can only happen in the workplace and may be better achieved in the workplace,” he said.
UniSA Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Margaret Peters said the school placed a strong emphasis on preparing its graduates for a ``smooth and successful’’ transition to the workforce.
“The percentage of UniSA graduates employed in professional occupations is very high at 90 per cent,” Associate Professor Peters said.
“To maintain this result (we plan) to boost the capacity for students to access career-relevant experiential learning in every degree program we offer.”
She said UniSA would next year introduce new communications initiatives for all students, particularly foreign students.
These would focus on developing students’ English language skills to benefit their studies and future careers.
Business Council of Australia policy director Patrick Coleman said the onus should be collectively on educators, employers and government to ensure graduates were job ready.
“An individual can have a very high level of technical knowledge but if they are not able to work effectively with others in the workplace then their value as an employee is going to be quite limited,” he said.
While acknowledging that some universities had made progress in better preparing students for the workforce, Mr Coleman said there was a need for better engagement between business and universities.
“We do think a collaborative approach is the answer,” he said.
Source: The Advertiser
