News and Opportunities
Paris meeting highlights education through engagement with industry partners
13 Jun 2012
Australian universities visiting Paris highlight the importance of establishing local industry partnerships and learning what business wants from graduates.
The University of Sydney is looking to develop a short study tour combining work experience and study in France commencing in June 2013.
Speaking at a breakfast organised by Austrade Paris for Australian Business in Europe (ABIE) members and allies, Dr Leanne Piggott, Director of the Business Program Unit at the University of Sydney Business School, said potential partners include the prestigious Institut des Sciences Politique (SciencesPo), which already has an agreement with the Group of Eight (Go8).
Dr Piggott, along with Professor Richard Henry, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), revealed how both universities are developing relationships with industry partners for student placements and academic research to set students on course for a ‘Future Unlimited’.
Both speakers stressed the importance of understanding what business is looking for so that graduates can be of immediate use in their chosen industry.
Professor Henry emphasised UNSW’s strong engagement with industry and the broader community, singling out existing relationships with Australia’s information and communications technology research centre of excellence, National ICT Australia (NICTA), mining and manufacturing group One Steel, and aerospace and defence giant Thales.
Dr Nicholas Baker, Australian Trade and Investment Commissioner to France, who led the discussion, said Austrade is uniquely placed to assist and advise Australian education providers on this initiative in the French market because of its comprehensive network of investment contacts.
Dr Baker underlined the Australia Future Unlimited branding and its emphasis on Australian education as an investment in the future and a path to a global career.