Global, ethical and practical

A message from the Acting Executive Dean of Law and Business Professor Susan Dann:

Guided by the mission to be Global, Ethical and Practical, the Faculty of Law and Business provides students in both the Peter Faber Business School and Thomas More Law School with regular opportunities to showcase their work-ready skills through placements with our industry partners.

Through ACU’s unique Future Ready program, industry partners provide business students with the opportunity to gain formal industry certification in Micro Excel as well as facilitating placements which enable students to apply their knowledge in a practical setting. The program works with a vast array of organisations, ranging from entrepreneurial start-ups sourced through ACU’s Co-Lab program, through to multinationals such Cisco, which has supported over 40 young women to enter STEM industries through its Mentor Me program.

Adecco, a global HR firm, has recently renewed its partnership with us and is strongly embedded in the work of the faculty. It not only provides placements with their clients but also contributes to the business school advisory board, engaging with students through network events and participating annually in the Industry Conversation Hour – a faculty event which brings together partners, faculty and students to discuss key emerging trends in employment. Just under half (48 per cent) of the students placed in internships through Adecco were offered ongoing employment on completion of their placement, thus confirming the mutual benefits of the relationship.

In the Thomas More Law School, the pro bono program enables law students to work with lawyers and clients in private practice, in the community and in government. These projects not only provide students with real-life experience and skills which contribute to their professional development; many projects also directly contribute to the mission of the university.

Partnering with the Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network (ACAN), pro bono students recently worked with mentors to review the modern slavery statements of businesses and organisations with a consolidated revenue of $100m or more. The results of their analysis were incorporated into the recently launched ACAN and Domus 8.7 Index of modern slavery, and selected students participated in a webinar highlighting key company statements. This experience has already resulted in several students being made offers of post-graduation employment.

These are just two examples of student success being driven by the faculty’s commitment to industry partners.