Kelly White
30 January 2024: Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is a key component of course offerings at the University of Canberra.
WIL places students at the forefront of real-world client interactions and professional contexts, empowering them with the experience needed to excel in their careers.
It’s an experience that couldn’t be provided without the generosity of industry partners, who welcome students into their workplaces and guide them through their first taste of the workplace.
Each year, the Faculty of Arts and Design presents the Work Integrated Learning Awards, to recognise the impact of these industry partners.
Purdon, a boutique consultancy firm specialising in Strategic and Urban Planning, Development Management, Communication and Engagement and Strategy and Economics, was named the Work Integrated Learning Employer of the Year for 2023.
Leaders at the firm are key believers in the benefits of WIL and have consistently welcomed University students into their ranks for placements and internships.
We spoke to Pierre Huetter, Chief Operating Officer at Purdon, to find out more about the benefits of workplaces engaging with WIL students.
Purdon leads the way in engagement with Work Integrated Learning students. Are there benefits for Purdon, as the employer?
We feel our business owes the University of Canberra a lot.
Half of our staff, senior and junior, are UC alumni, meaning UC has played a key role in Purdon’s success, through educating a big portion of our team and preparing them for the workforce.
WIL has been great for Purdon simply because it has allowed us to see how the students adapt to the workplace, before we make the significant decision on whether or not to engage them.
Or in other terms, it lowers our employment related risks and costs, while giving us a chance to get to know the student and their abilities.
In our view it is a win for us, and a win for the student.
Our two youngest UC recruits joined Purdon for placements towards the end of their degrees, and we offered them work on the day their internships finished. It was only a few weeks until we were able to start assigning them significant responsibilities.
These two staff members are great company contributors, and we hope they will stay with us for the long haul.
Interestingly, we have graduates from all degree levels and disciplines – we having staff who studied building and construction, planning, geography, architecture, arts and business.
What values or skills does Purdon look for in potential job candidates? How have UC graduates exemplified these?
Purdon predominantly looks for two attributes in candidates.
Firstly, we look for an ability to pick up and run with work. Being new to the field, we don’t necessarily expect career starters to bring high level skills to the company, what they must have, is a willingness and ability to learn on the job quickly.
Secondly, solid computer literacy. We’re finding that we need to use more and more software platforms (writing, GIS, 3D graphics, design, project management, workflow) to do our work, and having graduates who can use these tools well is very important.
Our most successful graduates brought high levels of computer literacy across many platforms, and the ability to learn and adapt quickly.
With these two attributes our UC graduates have quickly settled into our workplace, becoming productive, valued members of the team in a short timeframe.
What does the future hold for Purdon and UC?
We are happy and proud to work with the WIL program at UC. We have plans to seek interns from other areas with other skills as our business grows and diversifies, and we hope we can continue the journey with UC.
To learn more about Work Integrated Learning in the Faculty of Arts and Design, visit the UC website: canberra.edu.au/about-uc/faculties/arts-design/work-integrated-learning-wil
