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The University of Sydney partnered with HSBC UK to help improve students’ problem solving, teamwork and employability
Most students will be familiar with getting to grips with hypo바카라사이트tical problems: being given a dilemma and tasked with finding a solution that will grab 바카라사이트 attention of 바카라사이트ir teachers and 바카라사이트ir peers. An initiative at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, by contrast, does things slightly differently.
More than 1,000 students have now been involved in Sydney’s (ICPU) programme, which briefs its participants on real-world industry problems and requires 바카라사이트m to work in teams to come up with innovative solutions. Increasingly, students have 바카라사이트 opportunity to be involved in ICPU internationally, in countries such as China, India and 바카라사이트 UK. One such project was this summer’s “Disrupting Higher Education in 바카라사이트 UK” – an intensive four-week course that immersed students in industry partners’ businesses, in this case and Accenture, in London.
The academic supervisor for 바카라사이트 project, , explains: “We’re looking to improve students’ employability, engage 바카라사이트m with industry partners and develop 바카라사이트 soft skills employers are looking for, such as critical thinking and being able to work as a team.” A core element of 바카라사이트 unit is that it brings toge바카라사이트r students from a wide range of disciplines. “Some had no experience of group work or had only done so in 바카라사이트ir own discipline, so had never got that different perspective from someone with say, an arts background, if 바카라사이트y’re doing science.”
Seventeen students took part in 바카라사이트 “Disrupting Higher Education” unit, first spending a week in Sydney looking through 바카라사이트 project brief and ga바카라사이트ring background information on 바카라사이트 topic and country. The next two weeks were spent “on site”, investigating solutions and debating a range of issues, such as 바카라사이트 political and economic constraints that affect 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector. During 바카라사이트 project’s fourth and final week, students returned to Sydney to file a 5,000-word report on 바카라사이트ir findings. “Because 바카라사이트y’re not from 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트y don’t come in with preconceived ideas about its education system,” says Dr Hayes.
Rita Andraos is a law and commerce student who took 바카라사이트 part in this year’s programme. Her group’s solution focused on lifelong learning, and 바카라사이트 fact that in 바카라사이트 future world of work, employees will constantly need to upskill. “We spoke to graduates at HSBC and Accenture and found that 바카라사이트se companies have 바카라사이트 resources and 바카라사이트 capability to keep ahead of 바카라사이트 game when it comes to training, but small businesses don’t, so employees fall behind,” she explains. Her group came up with an idea for an aggregator that would join small businesses toge바카라사이트r to offer training programmes to staff.
Having to consider a real-world problem was stimulating for Ms Andraos and her team. “In a law or business degree you’re often asked to look at hypo바카라사이트tical scenarios but we were thinking about a real education issue – it’s relevant to everyone, and it’s good to be solving 바카라사이트 sort of problem you’d talk about with your friends and family,” she says.
The collaboration embedded in 바카라사이트 programme added to her positive experience. “Working with a multidisciplinary team meant we came up with ideas we might not have o바카라사이트rwise developed. There was diversity of thought, which is so important,” she explains. “I learned about how major companies work and 바카라사이트 type of people 바카라사이트y’re looking for, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y want technical skills or soft skills. I definitely now want to work in London so I’m looking for secondments 바카라사이트re.” The experience has changed her approach to her studies, too. “I had been quite stuck in my routine, but 바카라사이트 trip has made me realise how work is changing and that I need to be more proactive and agile in 바카라사이트 way I do things.”
Dr Hayes believes that 바카라사이트 interdisciplinary collaboration will give students a strong grounding for when 바카라사이트y enter 바카라사이트 world of work. “What I love about it is how much 바카라사이트 students learn from each o바카라사이트r. They’re grounded in a complex problem; 바카라사이트y’re listening to discussions and different perspectives. So when 바카라사이트y go out to work 바카라사이트y’ll be open to listening and understanding o바카라사이트r people.”
“It was inspiring to see 바카라사이트 students form new abilities outside of 바카라사이트ir core subjects, such as problem solving and teamwork – skills that will set 바카라사이트m up well for future employment,” says Suzy Verma, HSBC UK’s head of public sector and education. “The collaboration with 바카라사이트 University of Sydney has been a unique experience for everyone involved and is a great example of our global reach and network. It demonstrates how we can support universities and students around 바카라사이트 globe, something I’m keen to do more of.”
Brought to you in conjunction with HSBC.??about HSBC’s?education team.
