Industry Based Learning (IBL) Program for Future Employers
IBL is a well established process with well researched benefits for students and employers. Our program promotes partnership between Swinburne and industry. We are committed to developing strong links with industry.
We offer employers in small, medium and large businesses the opportunity to select the right student for their workplace, students who are high achievers, near graduate level, and who are highly motivated and enthusiastic. The IBL program provides a great opportunity for you, the employer, to integrate into your organisation, recent theories studied by our students.
Our flexible IBL program offers employers the opportunity to source productive, motivated and enthusiastic students. We have a long and successful history of IBL and know how to make the program work for you.
Due to Australian government regulations, optional Industry-Based Learning is currently not available to international students.
1. Why are the benefits to Employers?
- An opportunity to test drive a potential future employee.
- The completion of important tasks in a cost efficient and professional way using a newly skilled and enthusiastic employee with a capacity for rapid new learning.
- Increasing diversity within the workplace age and culture.
- Introducing new ideas and approaches.
- Contributing to the training of new professionals.
- Accessing services and programs at Swinburne both within Higher education and TAFE.
2. What disciplines are students available in?
IBL is optional for business students. It is normally undertaken for six or twelve months after the second year of study, but variations on this timeframe are possible. Students with the following majors and minors may be eligible for IBL.
Placements may be tied to a particular discipline, or may draw on several disciplines. Yet other placements offer general business experience and simply require a good quality Business student from any discipline:
- Accounting
- Business Law
- Entrepreneurship
- Economics
- eMarketing
- Finance
- Human Resource Management/Organisation Behaviour
- Information Systems
- International Business
- Management
- Manufacturing Management
- Marketing
3. How long is the placement?
The placement period can be for a period of either 6 or 12 months. The position can be part-time or full-time, but must be at least 35 hours per week for a full-time position.
The Swinburne IBL program is flexible in its placement timing, with students able to commence their placement either towards the end of the year, e.g. November/ December, or early in the year, e.g. January/February. Those commencing a mid-year placement may start in late June/July.
4. What does it cost the employer?
The process of placement of students does not involve any monetary cost to the employer. Once on an IBL placement, students can be paid in one of two ways:
- The student is paid as a regular employee for the duration of their placement. The salary range offered by employers for students placed in 2011 is $30,000 to $52,000 p.a. (with the employer being responsible for all on-costs).
- As a scholarship recipient. Click here for more scholarship information.
5. What assistance is provided by Swinburne?
We have experienced staff that will assist the employer to find the right applicants.
Staff from the Industry Engaged Learning office are available at any time to visit the employer and discuss their needs. The manager will advertise positions and act as advisor for the selection process if required. The employer has full control of the recruitment process and final decision.
We have qualified and professional staff assigned to act as academic mentors and provide the opportunity of ongoing support to the student and employer during the placement.
6. How are the steps involved in the IBL recruitment process?
- Identify an opportunity in your organisation where an IBL student can gain experience relevant to their stream of study and where you, the employer, can provide a safe and challenging work environment.
- Send us the job description outlining the specific tasks, expected responsibilities and specific skills/capabilities required. The Professional Pratice Office will advertise the position and advise through the selection process if necessary.
- Review the applications and select the students you wish to interview.
- Contact the students directly to arrange interview times and location.
- Interview the students and make a selection.
- Contact the preferred student and offer them the position. When the student has confirmed acceptance, send a letter of offer to the student confirming salary details and any specific details of employment.
- Contact the Industry Engaged Learning office to advise them of the successful applicant.
- Contact the unsuccessful candidates.
7. What are the responsibilities of the employer?
Once the successful student has commenced work, the employer is asked to provide the student with an appropriate induction program and ongoing training as required. The employer should also provide supervision (either personally or appoint a mentor) to the student. This assists in providing regular performance feedback to the student. The student will be required to write reports on their IBL experience. The student's workplace supervisor is asked to read and sign off on the reports.
8. Resources
Enquiries
Mr Matt Leckie
Team Leader,
Partnerships & Industry Engaged Learning
T +61 3 9214 4705
F +61 3 9819 2117
mgleckie@swin.edu.au