• Charles Sturt University and IBM sign Internship Agreement
• Internships provide opportunities for students to gain critical Digital Transformation skills and grow the workforce in regional NSW
• Internships begin in August 2022

Charles Sturt University and IBM Australia have signed an Internship Agreement to facilitate work integrated learning opportunities for students in regional NSW.

The internships – to be completed by students as a component of relevant Business and Information Technology courses at the University – will be paid vocational work experience placements, providing interns with the opportunity to apply the theory and skills they gain from studying at the University to a professional workplace setting.

The internships will be open for application in July with the first in-take beginning at the start of the University’s second session in August.

Staff from the two organisations are also planning to collaborate to develop new digital transformation related academic curriculums and short courses leading to micro-credentials to be taught at the University.

Charles Sturt Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Graham Brown said the internships are part of a historic partnership for regional NSW and help cement the University’s strategic commitment to collaborate with leading industry partners to entrench the University as a true anchor institution in regional Australia.

“We are excited that this Agreement and these internships activate the partnership with IBM we announced last year and will ensure Charles Sturt University’s Business and Information Technology graduates will be among the most skilled and sought-after in Australia,” Professor Brown said.

“The internships provide fantastic learning and career development opportunities for our students and will build a workforce in regional Australia which is equipped with the critical digital skills that the future will demand.

“We are also collaborating with IBM on academic curriculum and micro courses, which will

create a wealth of opportunities for Charles Sturt University’s students, teaching staff and researchers, as well as the regional communities we proudly support.”

IBM Australia’s Client Delivery Centre Leader, Julie Fairley, said the digital skills crisis in Australia - exacerbated by the impacts of COVID-19 - demanded new ways of approaching skilling and hiring.

“Students today must have digital acumen and literacy combined with competencies such as creativity, communication and collaboration skills, as well as character qualities such as curiosity, initiative, persistence and social and cultural awareness, to be able to fully contribute to and participate in tomorrow’s digital economy,” she said.

“We know diversity of thought fuels innovation and ultimately the advancement of Australia’s societal and economic growth, and that is why the diversity of the Bathurst and Charles Sturt University community is so important to IBM.”

NSW Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Member for Bathurst, the Hon. Paul Toole, commented on the collaboration and the importance of growing digital skills in regional NSW.

“We’ve seen rapid adoption of innovative technology across NSW in recent years and with that, it’s essential to build digital skills within our workforces and across the regions,” he said.

“It’s fantastic to see a company like IBM working with Charles Sturt University to provide internship opportunities to regional students, helping them gain critical digital transformation skills and grow the workforce in regional NSW.”

ENDS