raffles leads the way with quality internships leading to solid employment outcomes – a nsw member profile

Last week, ACPET NSW Member Support Officer Sarah Rosen, visited Raffles College of Design and Commerce in North Sydney.

College CEO, Isaac Ng outlined the mandatory Internship Program that requires each of its 657 domestic and international students to complete a 200 hour work placement as part of their course. Offering VET and Bachelor programs in Design, Visual Communication, Commerce and Accountancy, the internship program ensures their graduates have a head start by having practical work ready skills and excellent contacts with industry employers.

In fact the college was commended in their 2009 AUQA audit report for its commitment to students, the quality of its teaching staff (many of whom are current industry practitioners) and its strong links with industry providing an employment platform for graduates.

Formerly known as the KVB Institute of Technology delivering Design and Commerce qualifications since 1978, the college was acquired by the Raffles Education Corporation (REC) in 2005. The college is now part of REC which has its origins in Singapore where it opened its first college in 1970. Today the group has grown to be the largest private education provider with more than 31,000 students in 34 colleges 31 cities and 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Under the supervision of the Raffles Internship Coordinator, students are encouraged to research potential employers, establish contact, go through the application process and negotiate their own arrangements. This provides students with a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience about the area they will want to work in as well as giving them direct contact with potential employers. Fashion Design students have had placements with leading designers like Kit Willow Podgornik and Akira Isogawa.

Sarah Rosen (ACPET NSW) met with Raffles executives Lee Watson (Registrar), Isaac Ng (CEO) and Dr Greg Cooper (Accreditation Manager) in their North Sydney office last week.