Griffith University students have been given a flying start to a new career following a new agreement signed with Queensland Airports Limited (QAL).
Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today, QAL and Griffith University have formalised existing working relationships and extended it to benefit both the University and QAL.
After years of collaboration with Griffith Aviation, QAL has broadened its engagement in recent months, accepting Griffith Business School student interns to work across a broad range of business activities, including the development of employee support materials and research.
Now under the MOU, this agreement has been extended to Griffith students from a wider range of disciplines, including engineering and information and communications technology. Ongoing research collaborations are also being jointly developed within Griffith Aviation.
QAL is the operator of Gold Coast Airport, one of Australia’s fastest growing airports, welcoming more than six million passengers in the past year. QAL Chairman, Ms Annabelle Chaplain, is a Griffith alumnu, having graduated in the second cohort of students. Ms Chaplain received the Griffith Business School Outstanding Alumni Award in 2015.
Sharing of skills and knowledge
“This agreement is a major step towards the sharing of skills and knowledge between our two organisations,” said Associate Professor Alan Blackman, the Director of Work-integrated Learning at Griffith Business School.
“It is an opportunity to broaden the scope of student mentoring, while creating new channels for senior staff at QAL to engage with students at Griffith University through avenues such as guest lecturing and for Griffith University faculty to provide executive development training and collaborate in research projects of benefit to both organisations.”
QAL’s Beau Tydd (from left) and Chris Mills with Griffith University’s Professor Martin Betts, Professor David Grant and Associate Professor Alan Blackman.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said the partnership is mutually rewarding.
“This partnership offers students the unique opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience while continuing their studies. We’ve welcomed five students into our business since we implemented this initiative and they’ve worked within our team across a broad range of departments,” said Mr Mills.
“Our staff have also embraced this opportunity and are finding it rewarding to play a part in the professional development of their allocated student. We look forward to the continued development of this partnership.”
Griffith Business School’s Pro Vice Chancellor Professor David Grant has welcomed today’s milestone agreement.
“Griffith Business School prides itself on developing strong and strategic ties with industry. Today’s agreement builds on the success of our existing partnership and clearly signals the ways in which we can deploy our academic expertise so as to make a real and positive difference to business,” said Professor Grant.
“It will also deliver ongoing benefits to Griffith students, as they seek to develop the skills necessary to prepare them for entering the workplace.”
