internships-and-work-placement-opportunities-for-international-students-in-victoria-ieaa-report-october-2012

Challenges
Identifying placement opportunities is one of the main challenges for students and the faculty.
The faculty requires students to source their own placement. There are two reasons for this requirement.
The first relates to resources. The WIL program was built around a sustainable model that involved the
student negotiating his or her own placement. Current staffing precludes the faculty from sourcing
placements for all eligible students. The second reason is based on a belief that ownership in the work
placement negotiation process is critical to the success of the placement. The process of securing their
own placement requires students to develop skills critical to future employment, such as negotiation
and communication, and enhances their knowledge of the Australian labour market.
Many international students struggle to find their own placement which some staff at Bellwood suggest
is due to the gap between workplace readiness of the students and the expectations of employers. A
leading authority on WIL at Bellwood believes the university needs to do more to prepare international
students for the Australian workplace, particularly in the areas of English language and communication
skills and knowledge of the Australian work culture. Australian employers, particularly large firms, that use
work placements as a recruitment method are often reluctant to take on international students for fear
they will require additional support and will not transition easily into the workplace.
In addition, WIL staff at Bellwood believe many students (both local and international) place too much
emphasis on obtaining positions with prestigious accounting and professional services firms at the
expense of mid-tier and micro firms. According to the WIL coordinator in the Faculty of Business and
Law, many students fail to see the value in smaller firms and often students would prefer to return to
a coursework unit if unable to undertake an internship in a large, well-known firm. For those who are
prepared to accept positions with smaller firms, the experience is generally very positive.
Bellwood Engineering: work experience opportunities
The School of Engineering at Bellwood is based at one of the university’s regional campuses. The School
of Engineering offers four-year undergraduate degrees in civil, electrical and electronic, mechanical,
and robotic engineering. According to literature provided by the School, the Bachelor of Engineering
“places great emphasis on the practical application of engineering and scientific principles to produce
industry-ready engineers, who are immediately employable and capable of adapting to an everchanging
future”. Both domestic and international students can choose subjects that offer industry
placements. According to the School, the Industry Based Learning (IBL) unit provides students with the
opportunity to “apply and consolidate knowledge gained at university, experience workplace culture
and work practices, explore career options and develop a professional network”.
Professional Practice
All undergraduate engineering students at Bellwood must complete a 12-week Professional Practice
unit. Professional Practice offers many advantages to both international and local students and is
an important factor in the university’s commitment to producing industry-ready engineers. It is of
particular importance to international students as it provides them with important exposure to the
Australian workplace as well as links to those active in their industry. Many employers use the 12-week
placement as a method of graduate recruitment. Importantly, the 12-week Professional Practice unit is
a mandatory accreditation requirement by Engineers Australia.
Challenges
For international engineering students, Professional Practice creates many challenges. Discussions with
staff in the School of Engineering, as well as staff in careers and employment and student counselling,
reveal there are serious problems with the Professional Practice unit as it currently stands. Bellwood
Engineering began as a small program with strong ties to the local community. In the past, it has been
relatively easy for engineering students to find their own placements and this model has relieved
teaching staff of the resource intensive task of placing all students. However, as the international cohort
has grown, engineering academics concede the model may need to be revised. Other universities
administer more formalised programs and Bellwood may need to examine the current model if demand
for engineering degrees among international students grows.
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