Australia’s number 1 university opens doors to a global career?
View(s):In a world where career and industry are developing at lightning speed, how do you prepare for a job that may not even exist yet?
For many high school students faced with constant reminders by teachers and careers’ experts that thecareer path they choose to take may be one that has not been created until their graduation,uncertainty is inescapable.
Forecasters predict that the future work place landscape will see employers searching for prospective employees who are creative, problem solvers, computational thinkers and have proven interdisciplinary knowledge.It is these broad skillsets that will form the basis for hybrid careers such as data science, computational biology, environmental science and biotechnology.
Australia’s number one university, the University of Melbourne’s innovative course structure works effectively to provide its graduates with these invaluable modern skills, to meet employer expectations and prepare them for whatever the future holds.
It is this modern approach to tertiary learning that attracted Sri Lankan Bachelor of Design student, Najma Kamaldeen.
“I feel my decision to study at the University of Melbourne will help me to build the range of skills and knowledge I need to stand out from my peers when applying for future employment,” says Najma
As hybrid careers become increasingly popular, graduates will often require a wide-range of knowledge not always offered by a traditional undergraduate degree.
An issue addressed by the University of Melbourne more than 10 years ago, with the boldre-structure of their undergraduate degree programmes. Today, each undergraduate course offered at the University allows students to focus on their chosen area of study, while nurturing their broader curiosity by completing interdisciplinary subjects known as, breadth study.
The breadth study programme builds important skills – from problem solving to lateral thinking –that provides students with the tools to consider their chosen major with a deeper level of engagement.
For Najma, the University of Melbourne breadth study programme allowed her to focus on her core Design subjects, while exploring Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
“I found my breadth study very interesting as it was completely different to the rest of my design subjects. I was exposed to a new area of learning that I hadn’t discovered before,” says Najma
“Through Politics, Philosophy and Economics I learnt to see the world through many new perspectives.”
Breadth study helps students to develop distinct ways of thinking and examine problems with a unique lens. Asking students to step outside of their comfort zone and dive into a new subject area ultimately provides students with both breadth and depth of knowledge that aligns to multiple discipline areas –attributes that ensures graduates are adaptable, think differently and are comfortable in unfamiliar territory.
Undergraduate students are also offered the opportunity to undertake professional skills subjects throughout their studies,including coveted workplace internships, to help them build industry connections, knowledge and skills to be successful in the workplace.
At the forefront of education in Australia, the University of Melbourne continues to introduce new majors that reflect many hybrid careers in today’s workplace. Students already have the option to enrol in computational biology – an area of study propelling scientific advancement via big data sets.
Find out more about studying at the University of Melbourne, and hear about our unique approach to undergraduate education at our Information Evening in Colombo on Friday 6 September. We are looking forward to meeting with Sri Lanka’s most talented and ambitious students and their families at the Taj Samudra Hotel. Register at http://go.unimelb.edu.au/f4pr