UNE > News and Events > Browse by article > Students get Ready for Work

Next Chief Scientist to speak at UNE graduation October 4, 2006  

Previous Indonesian universities seek UNE partnership October 3, 2006 

Students get Ready for Work

October 03, 2006

WorkReady.thumb.JPGIt's not often students can get a chance to test drive the career they wish to pursue. But thanks to The University of New England's WorkReady program, students are now getting hands-on experience and real industry training through UNE.

"A point that is often raised by business is that graduates, while qualified, lack the extra qualities they need to succeed in a work environment," said UNE's WorkReady Officer, Mike Creagan.

"UNE has a reputation of producing graduates that are industry-ready," Mr Creagan continued. "Our WorkReady program provides an excellent platform for students to learn and understand the challenges that graduates may face once they are in the work force."

The program is becoming popular, attracting 72 students in 2006. Three of those are currently doing work experience in UNE's Marketing and Public Affairs Directorate (MPA).

Murray Bruce, Esther Murphy and Holly Bretthauer (pictured here) have worked at MPA since the beginning of third term, and credit the program with giving them valuable workplace skills.

"WorkReady has been an awesome experience, especially here at MPA," said Holly Bretthauer, a third-year Communication Studies student. "We are learning things that cannot be learnt in a lecture theatre. The people here [at MPA] are very helpful, and I can always ask for help. What's better is that I've actually had real work training - rather than getting coffee, as is often the case with work experience students. I've worked on such events as Ag-Quip and the 2006 UNE Open Day."

UNE has taken steps to provide better opportunities for students. UNE's Public Relations Manager, John Kauter, said WorkReady students always had the enthusiastic approach to work required in MPA and were valuable team members.

"Murray, Esther and Holly have shown a keen enthusiasm for the job," Mr Kauter said. "We gave them real tasks to handle and they didn't let us down. It was as if they had always been a part of the team. It only goes to show what highly motivated and career-ready graduates we are producing here at UNE."

If you are a student interested in WorkReady, or an employer willing to give intelligent and capable students a career start, call Mike Creagan on 02 6773 3102 or visit the Web site: www.une.edu.au/cc/workready/index.htm.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at October 3, 2006 04:22 PM