Building employability skills for higher education students: An Australian example

Robert Joseph Gill

doi:10.21153/jtlge2018vol9no1art739

Authors

Robert Joseph Gill Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21153/jtlge2018vol9no1art739

Keywords:

employability, graduate attributes, student forum

Abstract

Employability has become an important focus for graduates and employers in Australia, as many universities contend with the notion of developing knowledgeable and problem-solving graduates who are workforce ready practitioners. This paper presents an example of how the higher education communication disciplines from across Victoria, Australia, have developed a forum that allows graduating students to engage directly with industry leaders to better prepare for the leap from higher education to professional employment in the communication and media sectors. This national award-winning education forum brings multi-institutional student groups, recent graduates, academics, and industry practitioners and leaders together in order to aid the development of student skills in areas such as: networking, job application, time management, and effective work habits.

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Author Biography

Robert Joseph Gill, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

Associate Professor Robert Gill, Course Director, Communication Programs, Media and Communication Department, Faculty of Health Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology.

Rob Gill has been an academic in Public Relations & Advertising at Swinburne University of Technology since 2007. Rob completed his doctorate in 2006 on the theme “Employer of Choice and building a positive Corporate Social Responsibility reputation for the Australian Financial Sector.” His current research interests include brand communication and reputation management. Rob is a keen member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and a graduate of the Corporate Public Affairs Institute residential program. He has more than 10 years’ experience as a communication manager in the fields of finance, tourism and state government. Prior to this, Rob spent 15 years teaching in Australia and internationally.

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