Many of ECU's undergraduate and postgraduate programs provide opportunities for students to apply their classroom learning through work placements and internships.
In the old model of 'university then career', you eventually landed a job and started a whole lot of new learning about the 'real world'.
Now imagine if some of that time at university had been spent not just learning the theory but also developing the practical skills you'll need in that real world.
Even better, imagine if you got paid to learn those skills before graduating?
This was what happened for university graduate Adil.
In fact, his internship led to a job offer - and he's since been promoted!
Strategic beginnings
Adil grew up in city called Ghaziabad in India. As a young boy, he was fascinated by public speaking and participated in many debates, both in school and at a state level.
Adil finished his undergraduate degree in India, graduating with a degree in Computer Science.
"I wanted to learn how to code and equip myself with the IT transformation that was happening across the globe," he says.
Adil then worked in a startup, contributing to sales, marketing and business analytics.
It was during this time I developed an inclination towards business analytics, and I wanted to deep dive in this domain
"My undergrad course gave me the foundation skills needed to do my postgraduate. My undergraduate degree was focused more on teaching hard core technical skills, whereas the postgraduate course that I did gave me both technical and management skills."
Smart thinking.
Adil Raza Zaidi
Immersive learning through work placements
Adil chose Edith Cowan University, or ECU, for his postgraduate study.
Also smart thinking.
Many of ECU's undergraduate and postgraduate programs provide opportunities for students to apply their classroom learning through work placements and internships in all kinds of workplaces.
The university calls this initiative 'Work-Integrated Learning'.
"The WIL program is a brilliant initiative that gives students a chance to work with industry leaders," says Adil.
I got an opportunity to work with IBM through the WIL program, and it changed the whole course of my career
During his IBM internship, Adil worked as a business analyst on a live project where he applied most of the skills he learned in his ECU course.
And he was paid too.
ECU's partnership with global giant IBM offers paid placement opportunities for student interns who are studying subjects that are critical to Western Australia's economic future.
Like Adil, students get first-hand experience on meaningful consulting work, while undertaking professional development and networking with leading industry professionals.
"Today, I am a project manager at IBM. I went from working part-time to handling a portfolio of $40 million as a project manager for an energy company in 3.5 years.
"This impossible dream became a reality only because of the WIL internship program."
About Adil's course
Adil's postgraduate course was ECU's Master of Management Information Systems.
Course Coordinator Dr Laizah Mutasa says the master's is tailored for both IT professionals and those from other disciplines such as engineering, supply chain, marketing, and finance who want to use technology to improve organisational performance.
"Students get to build their strategic and problem-solving skills as well as gain practical technology skills to drive better business outcomes.
"Graduates are well-prepared to contribute to digital transformation initiatives and support smarter business decisions."
Adil is living proof of that!
