The new degrees that are shaking things up

The new degrees that are shaking things up The new degrees that are shaking things upPosted June 16, 2015, by Marni Williams Ever hear the criticism that university graduates just arent job-ready? When you consider that peak body Universities Australia recently launched a national strategy to address this criticism, it would seem that some university degrees really are failing the relevance test. Their new program is all about encouraging Work Integrated Learning (WIL), which is about finding ways to get businesses to work more closely with education providers to design curricula that combine theory and practice. While WIL has long been the staple of selected degrees such as teaching and health, many other study paths lack the same hands-on experience and todays students are asking why. Universities Australias Chief Executive, Belinda Robinson, says student demand for WIL is on the rise, as such programs play a practical role in giving students the skills and experience they need to match employer expectations. So where can zugnglich students go to get some WIL? Enter the newest player in Australian business degrees Ducere. Just this month, the innovative course provider has partnered with the University of Canberra to launch online business degrees in entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, marketing and management, and each is delivered with a twist a third of the course is project-based, meaning students can build on their skills and knowledge in real-life industry-based situations before they graduate. Duceres MBA takes this a step further it has no set units and requires no course work. Instead, students work on three major projects, which can take between four and six months to complete, under the guidance of Duceres industry partners, the likes of which include national and multinational organisations KPMG, NAB, Linfox, PWC, Save the Children and SEEK. You might expect that these professional development opportunities are what make Ducere unique, but its only part of their story. They make good use of their video-based e-learning platform and have built up a seriously impressive Global Faculty boasting over 250 CEOs, entrepreneurs, ex-prime ministers, Nobel Prize winners, United Nations humanitarians, ex-chief scientists and all manner of other experts who provide students with their personal knowledge and experience along the way. Its an ambitious model that sees students learning about leadership alongside exclusive insights from Julia Gillard and John Howard, hearing the tricks of the marketing trade from David Copperfield and getting the insider tips on negotiations from self-made billionaire Lindsay Fox. While you can expect to be schooled online by some intimidating figures, these courses are designed to fit your lifestyle and slot in with your current business goals. Like other online education providers, Ducere offers the flexibility of self-paced learning, meaning you can take anywhere between six months and 10 years t o get your qualification. As a provider of the Bachelor of Applied Social Entrepreneurship, Ducere also practices what it preaches its business and management courses are offered on a fee-paying basis, allowing the profits they generate to fully fund the philanthropic programs of the Ducere Foundation. The Foundation operates with the conscience of a not-for-profit, and the mindset of a global enterprise with initiatives so far including the Ducere Peace Centre Project and the Ducere Publishing House, which continue to create opportunities for leadership and training for disadvantaged African youth. So if you want a qualification that gets you as close as possible to the real experience of those who have been there and done that, then it might be time for a little more WIL and Ducere certainly has the way Check out Duceres latest courses Bachelor of Applied Entrepreneurship Bachelor of Applied Business (Management) Bachelor of Applied Business (Marketing) Bachelor of Applied Soc ial Entrepreneurship ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?philanthropisch Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searcheshow to get cpaapprentice chef wageseco social workoperations manager job descriptiongraphic designer job description CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMarni WilliamsRelated ArticlesBrowse moreBossWork etiquetteHow To Ask For Time Off An Email TemplateNeed to take some time off work but struggling to put this into an email? Use this pre-written email template to explain your situation (without going into too much detail) and to ask for personal leave.EducationWORKFORCE TRENDSAgeing work force means future teacher shortagesAn ageing workforce in the education sector may mean upcoming skills shortages at schools and TAFE institutions.Workplace cultureFriday Playlist Music to get you motivatedGetting back into the swing of things can be tremendously difficult if youre returning from the Best Holiday of Your Life. Our Friday playlist can ease the pain.

Small Business Philosophy for Mechanical Engineering

Small Business Philosophy for Mechanical Engineering Small Business Philosophy for Mechanical Engineering There are many opportunities for small geschftlicher umganges in mechanical engineering, but it comes down to financial and sales understanding as much as ability in the field. According to Mike Brown, vice president of marketing and sales for ZAPS Technologies, you better get number-crunching. Ive seen many engineers who were brilliant but didnt realize it comes down to profitability, he says. You should be able to forecast how much money youll need and how much you think your product will make. Its terrific if it serves a greater purpose, but financial backers are trying to make a living. Christopher Neils, a bioengineering lecturer at the University of Washington, Seattle, sees government agencies as a key to his areas small business opportunities. I see the field divided between those technologies/applications that require FDA approval and those that dont, he notes. I think t hat small business and inventors will pursue mora of the latter as biotech components become more readily available at moderate cost. The results would be things like biosensors for geoengineering and cool living materials like the bacteria that are designed to fill cracks in concrete. Neils believes that FDA-approval projects like gene therapies will get more of the press. There is some room for small companies in therapies that target specific cells or cell components, implantable drug-delivery devices, and inventive mechanical surgical devices. Much of the actual production of these technologies will eventually be by the big companies that buy out the small ones. There will continue to be exciting advances in imaging technology, too, but I expect that the associated equipment will be too pricey for most startup companies. Again...Those Other Skills Though engineers may fill some business skills, they have to be willing to admit when they lack in major and important areas. Answeri ng a request for a proposal can lead to strong work but writing one properly is its own art, along with being time consuming. Honestly search yourself as to whether you can hit it in a strong way. Meetings for potential sales are also not everyones strong suit, so a small business owner cant be afraid to be trained in that area or bring someone else to sell, Brown says. Finally, negotiation can be highly stressful and an easy game to lose when you dont understand the ins and outs. If the topic of money makes you nervous, it may be a situation to defer to someone else with a steady hand. Eric Butterman is an independent writer. Ive seen many engineers who were brilliant but didnt realize it comes down to profitability.Mike Brown, ZAPS Technologies