Griffith joins with local businesses to boost skills

Griffith University has today celebrated the official launch of a Work Integrated Learning partnership with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ).

Student work placements can provide a valuable skills resource to business and this project has made it easy for employers to access a pool of talent from throughout the University, according to Griffith Institute for Higher Education (GIHE) Director and Dean of Student Outcomes Professor Kerri-Lee Krause.

“This is a valuable program and one that has benefitted many industries for some time, although with this latest arrangement it is now something that can be utilised simply by any business,” Professor Krause said.

“Through the newly established web portal, making a placement offer and being connected with a range of opportunities is now only a few clicks away for employers.

“For businesses, this type of placement can act as a unique recruitment opportunity, allowing them to closely examine the skills of a student and their ability to integrate into the workplace before they actually graduate.”

Logan City Council, Thiess, Gold Coast City Council, Parsons Brinckerhoff, QR Network, the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and DHI Water are just some of the businesses who have already participated by providing work-integrated learning placements for students, and have reaped the associated rewards.

The partnership was officially announced at the 101FM Live & Local Expo — the signature business event for Logan City in 2011 — at a combined chamber breakfast and business forum today.

This acts as the state component of a national initiative between the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Innovative Research Universities (IRU), which was launched on a national level by Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, on February 28 at Parliament House, Canberra.