Communications Council partners with Curtin University WA to bridge the study and career gap

Curtin University School of Marketing and the Communications Council are combining their expertise to ensure the next generation of marketing leaders have a greater awareness of the industry state of play when they graduate. Today they announced a partnership that will see them work together on bridging the gap between academic insight gleaned at university and the practical knowledge needed to excel in the marketing communications industry.

The Curtin partnership will seek to provide a connection between university and a communications career path; tapping into industry networks and resources to feed information on industry trends and topics into the curriculum and in presentations to students, and providing advice to Curtin on the curriculum, student recruitment and graduate attributes required by employers to ensure student resumes are up to scratch when they start their journey in the industry. 

Says Margaret Zabel, CEO of The Communications Council: “This relationship is a great step towards training tomorrow’s practitioners and making them enthusiastic about the prospect of being part of dynamic, social and rapidly evolving industry.

“It complements other services we already offer such as AWARD School and the Graduate Trainee Program, both designed to be segways into the industry. The Communications Council WA is pioneering this model, and we hope that if it is successful, it may prove an example for the development of curricula around Australia that are responsive to the current job market and that build up a graduate’s professional skills and capabilities.”

The connection also provides Communications Council membership to selected Curtin staff and students, involving them in industry events celebrating creativity, learning and connecting them to the industry to socialise and network.

Says Sonia Dickinson (right), associate professor, School of Marketing: “Our relationship with The Communications Council is an exceptional opportunity for our students. Through a range of joint initiatives, we are certain that our students will graduate job ready.

“Our relationship with TCC enables our students to gain industry knowledge and contacts throughout their course and benefits students in all years and levels of study. Over a three year study period, a student can significantly enhance their employability through regular opportunities to connect with TCC and industry.”

Today’s launch sees the Curtin University School of Marketing become the Inaugural Premier Member of the Communications Council Education Network, the first of a number of initiatives that will see TCC build relationships with universities across Australia come late 2013.

Says Danielle Norrish (left), TCC’s WA Representative: “With this initiative we hope to raise the awareness of our organisation and our agencies with students and academics, invest in the industry of tomorrow; and speak and promote the industry on behalf of our members to students, lecturers and influencers.”