Global conference puts spotlight on student employability

More than 300 delegates from 35-plus countries will attend the conference, which is designed for new and experienced practitioners of academic work placement and experiential education.

This will be the first time the conference is held in Australia or New Zealand.

“We see the conference as an important opportunity to broaden our national conversation about employability for both domestic and international students,” said Brett Berquist, University of Auckland Director International.

“Employability is a key driver for international students choosing New Zealand. It’s also important for the growing number of Kiwis who are starting their ‘OE’ (overseas experience) during their university study. 

“The GIC is a place for us to think about international mobility and the importance of employability outcomes for all students – as well as to network and learn from each other.”

A number of New Zealand tertiary providers are participating as well as hosting post-conference partnership visits.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) is the city sponsor for the conference and is moderating a New Zealand employer panel debate “Working with international students”.

ENZ is the country sponsor and will present new research, “Employer Perceptions of Hiring International Graduates”.

“We know that students want to have strong employability prospects after they graduate, whether they are back home, staying in New Zealand for some post-study work or in a third country,” said John Goulter, ENZ Acting Chief Executive.

The conference will cover an introductory track for those new to the field as well as latest research and trends, ideas for scaling up delivery and models for working with internship providers.

Among the presentations are topics on: “International Exposure at Home and Abroad: Employability gains through internships”; “The Connection Catalyst: Virtual internships for wider access to cultural fluency and employability”; and “Emerging Internship Destinations: Keys for developing employers’ most desired skills in recent graduates”. 

“The GIC plays an integral part in exploring past, present and future trends,” said Brett. 

“This year we have an important focus on the employability needs of international students, both in their country of study as well as supporting their return to their home market. This is a particularly important theme for New Zealand and Australian education providers.”

The conference will be held at the Owen G. Glenn Building, and receptions will be held at the Fale Pasifika, Auckland Town Hall, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Founded in 1999, previous GIC conferences have been held in the US, Singapore, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Registrations are currently open. For the full GIC programme see here: http://globalinternshipconference.org