How are CSU Advertising students being prepared to be industry-ready graduates?

Anne Llewellynn; Deborah Clarke

doi:10.21153/jtlge2013vol4no1art562

Authors

Anne Llewellynn CSU, Australia
Deborah Clarke CSU, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2013vol4no1art562

Keywords:

industry-ready, advertising, authentic, key attributes, graduate employability

Abstract

The need for University graduates to be industry-ready on completion of a tertiary degree is a topic which is being examined with increasing interest (Frawley & Litchfield, 2009). There is concern that Australia is facing a shortage of professional, qualified talent in the advertising industry (Corlette, 2010; Ma, 2012; Hayes Quarterly Report, 2013), thus placing an increasing demand on universities to produce industry-ready graduates who can fulfil advertising jobs and make an immediate and meaningful contribution to their employers. In an effort to successfully prepare graduates to make a meaningful initial workplace contribution, Charles Sturt University (CSU) is adopting strategies that aim to close the gap between the lecture hall and the workplace. One such strategy enables Advertising students at Charles Sturt University to spend their final year in the on-campus student advertising agency, Kajulu Communications. To transition easily into full time employment, students must apply best industry knowledge, practice and skills to a range of authentic situations to develop the abilities employers require of them in order to enter the workforce industry-ready. Whilst much has been written about graduate employability and the skills and attributes students need (Andrews & Higson, 2010; Boden & Nedeva, 2010; Bridgstock, 2009; Lowden, Hall, Elliott & Lewin 2011; Mason, Williams & Cranmer, 2009; Thomson, 2013), this paper examines the students’ perceptions of being industry-ready and identifies the key attributes relevant for course design.

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Author Biographies

Anne Llewellynn, CSU, Australia

(Graduate Certificate in University Learning & Teaching)

Lecturer in Advertising, School of Communication & Creative Industries, Faculty of Arts, Charles Sturt University (CSU).
Deborah Clarke, CSU, Australia

(Doctor of Education, Master of Education, Bachelor of Education, Diploma of Teaching)

Senior Lecturer Health & Physical Education Curriculum School of Human Movement Studies Faculty of Education, Charles Sturt University (CSU).

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