Bridging a gap between study and work

Tertiary science and ICT students are being disadvantaged by a lack of industry experience to help them prepare for the workplace after graduating.

A paper released by the Office of the Chief Scientist shows that just one in seven undergraduate students in the natural and physical sciences in Australia participates in an industry placement. Only three in 100 participate in a longer term placement.

The paper, which focuses on the growing need for work-integrated learning (WIL), shows 73% of IT students participate in projects but only a minority have access to longer term experiences. Yet studies consistently show that industry placements are invaluable to students of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), said Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb AC.

“We need industry and universities working better together to prepare our future workers to innovate, collaborate and adapt,” Professor Chubb said.

“In the decades ahead we will need people trained in STEM to be working in every industry, in many roles — including roles we haven’t yet imagined. 

“Yet we still offer placements to a minority of science students and they are usually ad hoc.”

The paper, ‘STEM-trained and job-ready’, is based on two commissioned investigations: one conducted by ACER, of university staff; and the other by NCVER, involving employers. An industry working group with representatives from peak industry bodies and the university sector oversaw the research.

University staff reported a lack of time and resources, as well as low employer participation, while employers were often unsure who to approach. Industry placements have played a marginal role in science and IT education in Australian universities — unlike engineering faculties, which require all students to complete industry placements in order to graduate.

Professor Chubb called for business leaders and universities to work together so student industry placements or projects are built into every STEM degree.

“These are skills that will serve a graduate well in any career, in any sector of the economy,” he said.

The four-page paper is available at www.chiefscientist.gov.au.