Issue b2, term 3, 2011

Forum gives students a step up

WA's up and coming Economics students were given the chance last month to gain practical insight into how Economics works in the business environment, thanks to the Student Economic Forum 2011.

CCI Chief Executive James Pearson and CCI General Manager for Advocacy David Harrison welcomed students, before they were treated to an address on the state of the economy by CCI Chief Economist John Nicolaou. CBS School of Economics and Finance Lecturer Steven Kemp then provided them with invaluable tips on tackling the WACE exam, and they learnt about the study opportunities available at CBS.

Critical thinking was the name of the game during the afternoon session as students engaged in an interactive exercise, analysing key economic issues that impact on society, governments and business, and gained an invaluable practical understanding of how economics works throughout the process.

The forum was sponsored by CBS and hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA and the Economics Teachers' Association of WA (ETAWA). Watch this space for details of the 2012 event!

New bachelor is the perfect mix

Just like wine, cheese and a balmy summer's eve, CBS' new course combination of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management offers three ingredients which are the perfect complement to each other.

From 2012 onwards, the already strong Tourism and Event Management major offered within the Bachelor of Commerce will be extended to include hospitality management, further enhancing graduates' options. These closely related sectors together constitute one of Australia's largest industries and having a degree which combines all three allows graduates to seek employment in either sector or switch from one to another.

Currently there is a significant skills shortage in all three sectors and a projected increase in demand for skilled employees. In relation to hospitality management, accommodation and food services sector employment is predicted to increase annually by two per cent over the next five years, translating into nearly 80,000 new jobs. Expertise in hospitality management opens up possibilities such as being a restaurant or bar manager, hotel supervisor, or even a catering contract manager within the resources sector.

The course can also be taken as a double major with Marketing, Public Relations or Asian Studies. For more information, download the Curtin Business School Undergraduate Course and Graduate Guide 2012.

Excelerate-d learning

Excelerate is a 14 week program that puts students ahead of the pack by enabling them to complete a university level Accounting, Economics or Information Systems unit in Year 12. It includes professional training and industry engagement to provide a unique experience for students, and is designed to complement and support Year 12 study.

Graduates of the program receive a credit towards a CBS Commerce degree and there is potential for accounting traineeships or internships for outstanding students through our industry partnerships. This year, 13 graduates have received traineeship offers from PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG since graduating Excelerate, with more still to come.

Excelerate is available to students studying Year 12 in 2012, who possess a strong academic record as well as the self discipline, time management skills and motivation required to succeed in an academically challenging university program. Admission to the program is based on a written application and a face-to-face interview. Visit the Excelerate website for more details.

Curtin communicators win in Barcelona

Four talented young Curtin students have returned triumphant from Barcelona, Spain, as part of a winning team in the Global Communication Project (GlobCom) for multinational company, Carl Zeiss.

The students, Insyirah Binte Abdullah, Nadhilah Shahruddin, Quin Song and Ronald Pang teamed up with others from universities across the globe and worked in 'virtual' teams. They worked day and night on websites, Facebook and Skype, collaborating across time zones to create a communications plan for Zeiss, just as they would in the real world. For the culmination of the project, they travelled to the conference in Barcelona to deliver their winning pitch.

Curtin is the only Australian university to participate in GlobCom, which was incorporated into the CBS first semester public relations international unit three years ago. Curtin Lecturer and GlobCom Australian co-ordinator Catherine Archer said it provides students with invaluable experience in dealing with the international nature of public relations.

For the full story visit the CBS website.