University Careers Services
Ways of working with the people who
advise tomorrow’s workforce today
Dr. Alan McAlpine
President of NAGCAS
Who is NAGCAS
• National Association of Graduate Careers
Advisory Services
• Voice for career development and
employment in higher education
• Management Committee
• President
Connect
• We connect Employers and Professional bodies with students and
graduates via career services, career services with each other across
Australia and internationally and members to national and
international research and trends.
Support
• We support Graduate Career Practitioners to achieve the highest
standards in their profession. We facilitate professional
development opportunities, links, shared expertise, networks and
resources.
Advocate
• We actively voice the unique perspective that NAGCAS affords to
the betterment of issues associated with graduate careers to the
government, industry and media.
Management Committee
•
•
•
•
•
•
President – Alan McAlpine (QUT)
Vice President – Julie Howell (Curtin)
Secretary – Sally Brooks (RMIT)
Treasurer – Kathryn Anderson (Flinders)
National PD coordinator– Joanne Tyler (Monash)
Membership Secretary – Daena Ristevska (William
Angliss Institute)
• IR Chair – Kate Gemmell (ANU)
• CICA rep – Martin Smith (Wollongong)
• GCA Rep – Tony Lyons (Griffith)
Management Committee (cont)
State Presidents
• NSW/ACT – Erin Miller(SCU)/Paul Worsfield(CSU)
• Qld/NT – Rebecca Boddington (USQ)
• SA – Frederick Stokes-Thompson (SA)
• Vic/Tas – Deborah McDonald (Melbourne)
• WA – Lauren Robertson (Curtin)
Co-opted members
• GCA – Noel Edge
• Vet Sector – Lisa Whitbread-Fox (Goulburn/Highlands/South
Coast)
What we have planned
•
•
•
•
How we can help
International Student Challenges
Employability Awards
Conclusions
What would you like to know?
How we can help
• Source of information on latest developments
within University Careers Services, including
government policy, that may impact upon
employers.
• Provide strategic services and advice on
maximising usage of University Careers
Services to most effectively reach your target
audience.
How our members can help
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
• Online Job Advertising.
Not all University Careers Services use
CareerHub.
• Employer Presentations / Guest Workshops.
• Targeted Email/Mail Services.
• Careers Fairs
Sector Issues
•
•
•
•
•
Professional Standards
Slow Graduate market
Demand driven student market
Increase (potential) in postgraduate students
Widening Participation
Employability Awards
Nicole Snowden
Accomplish Project Co-ordinator
UTS Careers Service
Email: Nicole.snowden@uts.edu.au
Phone: 02 9514 9256
Why Employability Skills
The most important competencies for employers
when hiring graduates include:
1. Oral communication
2. Teamwork
3. Interpersonal skills
4. Problem solving skills
5. Analytical skills
6. Written communication
7. University grades
Source: AAGE Employer survey 2012
Careers services taking action- UK
• AGCAS Skills Awards Task Group was
formed in 2010
• AGCAS estimates:
- that there are more than 50 employability
awards in the UK
- projects that by 2015 nearly all UK universities
in the UK will have a Employability Award.
University of Nottingham Advantage
Award
• The Nottingham Advantage Award is the
University of Nottingham’s employability Award.
• Launched in 2008 with 5 modules and
approximately 60 students
• 2012 offering 60 modules through the Award,
with opportunities for 2500 students to
participate.
• Within the next 4-5 years offer opportunities to
15% of student population, including
international campuses in China and Malaysia.
Australia
• UNE, USQ, University of Canberra, Victoria
University, University of Tasmania, University
of Melbourne, QUT, UNSW, Deakin University
and UTS.
• Aim: Creating well rounded graduates,
developing skills that employers need in the
workplace and building student confidence in
the application process
Overview
• Structures vary from university to university
but can include:
• Workshops covering networking, negotiating
skills, public speaking, effective
communication, CV writing, time
management, interview skills and many more!
• A work experience component which can be
paid work, volunteer work, participation in
community activities
Structure
• Length of awards vary from 6- 10 months OR
• Some are based on a points system where
students accumulate points throughout their
degree for different activities
• Employer involvement varies from university
to university
Student benefits
• Developing important skills for the workplace
• At UTS, it is recognised on students graduation
statement
• Offers a talking point in interviews
• Differentiates student from peers
Employability Awards
Nicole Snowden
Accomplish Project Co-ordinator
UTS Careers Service
Email: Nicole.snowden@uts.edu.au
Phone: 02 9514 9256
International Talent
Acquisition, Development and Retention
Olivia Doyle,
International Career Consultant
Swinburne University of Technology
Racquel Shroff
Director
Global Education Solutions
November 2012
Session Outline
•
•
•
•
International education snapshot
Changes to international student and post study work visas
Opportunities available to Australian employers
Maximising the knowledge and skills of international students
International Education in Australia Snapshot
• Education is Australia’s third leading export industry in
2011 worth $17.7 billion
• Total of 557,425 enrolments – 43% study in higher
education
• International students = 22% of Australian uni students.
International students = business growth partners
Countries of Origin – International
Students in Australia
Australia’s Top 10 Export Partners
Source: AEI 2011
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade 2010
Opportunities for Australian Business
International students are unique, value adding employees
In addition to the standard graduate - they can offer:

- Bi-cultural advantage

- Industry developments and insights from overseas


- Provide ‘intelligence’ – assist employers to understand new markets
and tap into different networks

- Improve import & export opportunities
A Changing Climate
International Student and Post Study Visas
• International students enrolled in research courses can work
full time while studying while others can work part time – no
more than 40 hours a fortnight
• From 2013, all higher education student can work in
Australia after completing their course
• Bachelor and master by coursework graduates will be able to
apply for a two year work visa
• Master by research graduates will be able to apply for a three
year work visa
• PhD graduates will be able to apply for a four year work visa
Current International Graduate Recruitment Trends
GCA Graduate Outlook Report 2011:
• Proportion of employer who recruited international graduates almost
doubled between 2005 – 2008 to a peak of 35%
• Nearly half of employers were large companies with more than 500
employers
2009 AEI International Graduate Employment Outcomes Survey :
• 83% of employers of former international students in Australia satisfied
• Three quarters of employers reported that international graduates met
or exceeded their expectations.
Lessons from Other Countries
USA
•
Since 1990, a cap of 65,000 H1-B visas set for each fiscal year, the first 20,000 H1-B
petitions filed by those with US Master’s or higher degrees are exempt from the cap.
•
Estimated that 25% of H1B visa holders transitioned from foreign student status
Canada
•
Skilled Workers with previous Canadian educational and work experience earn
approximately $10,000 more per year than those without Canadian education.
•
The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) is a multi-stakeholder
council that provides solutions to better integrate skilled immigrants and recent
graduates from Canadian colleges and universities in the labour market.
New Zealand
•
Around 31% of fee paying international students transition to work
Opportunities for Australian Business
Asian Century Whitepaper
5 key issues raised:
- maintaining a productive and resilient Australian economy
- building capabilities
- operating in growing Asian markets
- building sustainable security
- achieving deeper and broader relationships in Asia
To embrace the Asian Century and to excel in international business, Australia
needs to have workers with knowledge of Asian cultures and business
International students can provide business with resources to assist these tasks
International Student Acquisition, Development &
Retention
Acquisition
• Work closely with education institutions through curriculum development,
projects and industry certifications to ensure graduates meet industry needs
and are work ready
• Consider providing vacation, internship and part time / casual employment
opportunities relevant to study programs and set up employee feeders in
niche / emerging areas
• Regard the business investment required as part of corporate social
responsibility and community engagement
• Review your recruitment policies and procedures to provide a level playing
field to international student applications - focus on finding right candidate
International Student Acquisition, Development &
Retention
Development & Retention
-
Some specialist support programs
-
Career progression pathways in Australia
International sabbatical or transfer opportunities
Mentor program for better integration and job satisfaction
-
Work with graduate to identify on-going training and development
-
Focus on off-shore rotational opportunities where Australian links and
cultural knowledge are key
-
Migration sponsorship for staff in the long term
Conclusions
 Given the demographic challenges faced by most developed economies,
attracting and retaining talent is critical to their global competitiveness
 International students play a vital role through their labour market
participation, creation of knowledge and wealth
 Good graduate outcomes therefore benefit the individual, the host country
and their home country through global supply chains and diasporas
 The race to attract the best and brightest is on : capitalising on the
international talent pool onshore is critical to sustain the success of the
international student industry and to address ongoing skills shortage in some
sectors
Contact
Raquel Shroff
Director - Global Solutions
0488991078
racquel@globaleducationsolutions.org
Olivia Doyle
International Career Consultant – Swinburne University of Technology
9214 5360
odoyle@swin.edu.au
NAGCAS
www.nagcas.org.au