PYP puts theory into practice

When Rajbir Kaur started Swinburne's Professional Year in Accounting, she says she knew nothing about the “real world” of accounting. “Now I am capable of applying my theoretical knowledge to my practical work,” she says.

Rajbir is just one of Swinburne’s most recent Professional Year graduates already making their mark in the Australian workplace. Students have spent the past year learning about Australian workplace culture and honing their business and professional communication skills.

They’ve also had the opportunity to put theory into practice – and gain valuable experience in the Australian workplace – with a 12-week industry internship. “One of the best things about my placement is that I was treated like an employee, not just an intern,” Rajbir says.

Fellow Professional Year graduate Takuya Kito (pictured right) completed his internship late last year and was delighted to be appointed in an ongoing role. “I did my internship as a network engineer with an IT company called Teba. I got to work on a project with the Lighthouse Foundation, which supports young homeless people in Melbourne.

"During my internship, Teba offered me an ongoing job! The course itself is very well designed and the support that staff provide during our internship and for our career development was superb.”

Swinburne’s Professional Year is helping to improve the employment outcomes of international graduates. In 2011, a graduate survey found that 66 per cent were employed in their field within six months of graduation.

These findings are consistent with a recent report by Graduate Careers Australia (GCA), Graduate Outlook 2011, which reveals that international graduates from Australian universities face a marked improvement in their chances of finding work in their fields of study. In 2011, the proportion of employers recruiting foreign graduates rose to 31 per cent – an increase of almost 12 per cent.

Swinburne’s Professional Year Programs in Accounting and Computer Science are open to recent international graduates with a bachelor or master degree from an Australian institution. They have been developed in conjunction with CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Institute of Public Accountants and the Australian Computer Society.

Applications for August 2012 are now open. Register your interest at www.swinburne.edu.au/pyp