There are definite pay-offs for University of the Sunshine Coast students who get involved with the Innovation Centre and the businesses within it.
This will be the message that new Innovation Centre Student Ambassador Erin Pyers will be spruiking to new and returning students at the University of the Sunshine Coast this year.
Erin, who is in her second year of a Bachelor of Public Relations degree at the university, said she was very excited about her new role.
“Being the Innovation Centre’s student ambassador is the perfect opportunity to put into practice all the skills I have been learning in my degree,” Erin said.
“The Innovation Centre is full of really exciting businesses which creates great opportunities for students wanting to get experience in a whole range of industries,” she said.
Innovation Centre CEO Colin Graham said the Student Ambassador program was established last year to increase awareness among students of the business activities at the Centre and the opportunities this created for them.
“The results last year were fantastic with 12 students accessing part-time or fulltime work at the centre, a further 16 taking part in work experience or internships and another 34 taking part in student projects,” Mr Graham said.
Erin moved from Victoria to the Sunshine Coast to study and be by the beach, which she also emphasises the benefit of having opportunities at the Innovation Centre in relation to it’s prime location.
Erin said as part of her job she has been in the process of meeting with the 30 companies based at the Innovation Centre’s Business Incubator and Business Accelerator to find as many opportunities as possible for students in the coming year.
“I will be working to link students with the Innovation Centre companies and to find suitable students for work experience and internships, or to recruit for full time or part time employment,” she said.
“I will also be speaking to lecture classes about the Innovation Centre and the opportunities here.
“Many students just don’t realise what great opportunities there are right on their doorstep. Just by attending the regular networking functions like Enterprise Tuesday students can gain excellent contacts to help them with their career.
“Graduates really need to have an edge when looking for a job and begin to utilise the great range of companies at the Innovation Centre, to get first hand experience in their chosen career.”
Any students wanting to find out more about the opportunities at the centre can contact Erin by email – Epyers@usc.edu.au or visit the Innovation Centre website: www.innovation-centre.com.au.
