News

Students benefit from big business partnership
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer

Physical and technological improvements worth more than $900,000 are adding value to Avondale's business courses thanks to a partnership between a consultancy and the college.

The five-year partnership between Professional Advantage (PA) and the Faculty of Business and Information Technology incorporates the Microsoft Dynamics Academic Alliance, giving staff members and students in the faculty access to software worth $695,000. PA will also provide: staff members for guest lectures; technical support; and training. This is in addition to offering employment for graduating students and vocation placement for others.

"By incorporating Microsoft software into the curriculum, students will complete their degree with a broader range of skills and, as a result, broaden their employment opportunities," says Philip Stanton, the learning and professional development product manager in PA's Microsoft Division. He notes PA's strong Avondale link--employing 29 former Avondale students, including Mr Stanton, since alumni Derek and Jenny Rippingale formed the company in 1990. "The closeness of the connection is a win for both PA and Avondale--we get to know the students, they get to know us."

Bill Truscott, a lecturer in the faculty who served as the project manager, says the partnership adds credibility to the business courses. "Students see we're connected with real people in the real world."

The partnership also has wider benefits. The Australian Universities Quality Agency, in a January 2009 report of its audit of the institution, commends Avondale for seeking external partnerships in teaching and research. "Partnerships are essential," says vice-president (administration and research) Dr Vivienne Watts. "They help prevent us, as a higher education institution, from becoming an ivory tower. We still want to graduate students who are capable of critical thinking and who have developed generic problem-solving skills, but we also want these students to be prepared to operate in their future workplace, to apply their knowledge to specific, work-related situations. Partnerships with professional organisations help us achieve this balance."

Of the physical improvement, the first of a five-stage refurbishment of the faculty's building on the Lake Macquarie campus is complete. It includes the building of a larger reception, the acquisition of new furnishings, the addition of corporate signage on windows, the installation of handrails in the stairwell and suspended ceilings in two classrooms, the laying of new carpet, and the painting of classrooms and hallways. Five members of the faculty helped provide labour. One, senior lecturer Lyn Daff, even donated three of her paintings. "We're a small group," says dean Dr Keith Howson. "We get things done together."

Most of the money for the refurbishment came from a $30,000 PA donation matched as capital expenditure by Avondale--both organisations have committed $100,000 over the five years. However, an additional $8160 came from an anonymous donor who visited Dr Howson in his office during the refurbishment. "The changes impressed him, so I jokingly said, 'You should support us.' I didn't know he already had a cheque in his pocket. His generosity embarrassed me."

The refurbishment is already creating goodwill. "The feedback from returning students has been overwhelmingly positive and our staff members have received a boost seeing their building transform from a museum piece to a showpiece," says Dr Howson.

The launch of the partnership and the opening of stage one of the refurbishment is in the business building on Thursday, March 12, at 6 pm.

Caption: Derek Rippingale of Professional Advantage and Dr Keith Howson of Avondale College's Faculty of Business and Information Technology shake hands at the launch of the partnership between both organisations.
Credit: Ann Stafford