Balancing theory and practice

When she first arrived in Canberra, Belle set her sights on a high quality theoretical education, as she hopes to start her own business one day. However, as she worked toward her degree, she began to recognise how beneficial practical learning could be.

“As I progressed through my studies, I realised the importance of practical experience in complementing theoretical knowledge,” Belle explains. 

“My aspirations evolved to include gaining hands-on experience through internships and work integrated learning opportunities to enhance my employability and entrepreneurial capabilities.”

UC’s WIL program is an important part of the educational journey for students studying degrees in the Faculty of Arts and Design. Tailored to each degree, WIL helps students develop essential employment skills, network with industry experts and gain a deeper understanding of their chosen profession through exposure to a real-life workplace. 

A hands-on internship

As part of her degree studies, Belle undertook a three-month marketing internship at UC. This allowed her the exciting opportunity to apply what she’d learned in the classroom in a real business setting. 

“Throughout the internship, I collaborated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professional fields. In addition to working closely with colleagues from the social media department, I also collaborated with members from other departments, such as the school's web team,” she says.

Belle’s responsibilities included assisting in creating social media strategies, translating content, sourcing images for posts and contributing to performance reports. She was also able to get hands-on and create content for a variety of platforms, such as the e-commerce platform Little Red Book, considered to be the Chinese version of Instagram, and the Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin. 

“This experience was closely related to my degree in business, as it provided practical exposure to various aspects of marketing, social media management, and cross-cultural communication,” she adds. 

Learn by doing

During her internship, Belle got plenty of first-hand experience in a workplace setting, helping her build valuable practical expertise. She used the opportunity to develop a portfolio, showcasing her work and demonstrating how she applied business and marketing concepts in the real world. 

“A highlight of my WIL experience was being involved in the university's social media department's promotional activities, where I had the opportunity to showcase a ‘day in the life’ of the University of Canberra,” she shares. 

“Additionally, promoting UC on platforms like Little Red Book and the Chinese version of TikTok allowed me to engage with a wider audience and contribute to the university's international marketing efforts.”

After just a short period of time, Belle quickly gained lots of vital workplace capabilities. What’s more, working across a range of departments gave her a real-life taste of what her future could look like. 

“Through my WIL experience, I developed key professional skills such as communication, teamwork, social media management, and attention to detail. Working in a dynamic environment with diverse teams and deadlines helped me hone these skills and become more effective in a professional setting,” she asserts. 

Preparing for the future

Since her internship, Belle has been continuing her degree studies. She says that the insights and knowledge she gained through WIL will be highly beneficial to her, both throughout her studies and when she is ready to enter the workforce.

“I believe that WIL has prepared me for my future career by bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application,” she explains. 

“It has equipped me with valuable industry experience, expanded my professional network, and enhanced my employability.”

By gaining first-hand experience in the workplace, Belle says she’s better prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in her career journey, particularly in the field of marketing.

Find out more about UC’s world-class degree programs on the University of Canberra website.