For employers: workplace experience for AUT Business School students

To ensure our graduates hit the deck running in their chosen careers the AUT Business School developed a highly successful workplace experience programme called Co-operative Education. Co-operative Education is a key point of difference for our degree and has strong support with employers and industry.

Co-operative Education is a 9-week placement that provides students with a transition between their studies and the business world, and gives companies access to talented and motivated final-year students.

Information for employers

The benefits of taking on a Co-operative Education student

Co-operative Education students have the potential to contribute a great deal to your organisation. They will carry out their specific tasks assigned to them. As well, they will bring with them some of the latest thinking from their field of study and their fresh ideas, youthful energy and enthusiasm that can add a new and different dimension to your organisation.

Students apply their classroom learning to real situations and problems, and develop aspects of their professional practice. Co-operative Education students do a wide variety of work placements so they can experience the complexity of the real world of business first hand.

It is essential that they have hands-on practical experience with processes or tasks related to their field of study.

Companies that have hosted our students

Some companies that have hosted our students include:

One NZ
The Warehouse Group
PwC
Farmers Trading Ltd
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ
Auckland District Health Board
Perpetual Guardian
China Construction Bank
KVB Kunlun

Placement length

The minimum requirement is for a student to work full-time in the workplace over a 9-week period (300-330 hours in total or 35-37.5 hours a week). Students can also choose to do a gig option for their placement, which allows for placements in two organisations for 15 to 20 hours each during the 9 weeks of the placement period.

However, many students have a longer placement, for example a 3-month placement that starts before and ends after the 9-week compulsory period. Other students incorporate their Co-operative Education into their full-time, permanent employment.

How do I find a Co-operative Education student?

Self-placement is one of the principles underlying Co-operative Education – students are responsible for finding their own placements. They are expected to create a CV, hunt out opportunities, apply for placements and participate in your standard recruitment processes to secure their placement. AUT has an online recruitment tool for students where you can post advertisements for Co-operative Education vacancies.

Contact

If you have an opportunity for a Co-operative Education student contact:

Kate Coleman, Co-operative Education Manager
AUT Business School
09 921 9323
kate.coleman@aut.ac.nz

Dilon KumarBachelor of Business in Accounting and Marketing“For my workplace experience, I was placed with Finex Chartered Accountants, an accounting firm in Ponsonby, where I was involved in accounting and marketing projects. I got to hone my technical skills on software like Xero, MYOB, Canva, Microsoft 365 and Excel. I enjoyed the corporate experience and being able to see what it’s like working in my field.”

Lucian SimmonsBachelor of Business in Finance, Economics and International Business“During my placement, I worked on the development and execution of the first whole-industry crisis simulation exercise for financial services companies in Hong Kong, which achieved participation by 600 senior professionals.”“During my placement, I worked on the development and execution of the first whole-industry crisis simulation exercise for financial services companies in Hong Kong, which achieved participation by 600 senior professionals.”

Bronson WilsonBachelor of Business in Marketing, Advertising, Retailing and Sales“During my placement at TomTom in the Netherlands, I managed marketing materials, created email campaigns and sales pitch presentations, overhauled their line of product presentations and assisted on UX & UI design concepts.”“During my placement at TomTom in the Netherlands, I managed marketing materials, created email campaigns and sales pitch presentations, overhauled their line of product presentations and assisted on UX & UI design concepts.”

Olivia BollenBachelor of Business in Marketing, Advertising, Retailing and Sales“During my placement at Spotify, I worked directly with the sales teams, went to pitches, created pitches and organised out of office functions for Spotify clients. One part of the job I really enjoyed was our weekly team meetings.”“During my placement at Spotify, I worked directly with the sales teams, went to pitches, created pitches and organised out of office functions for Spotify clients. One part of the job I really enjoyed was our weekly team meetings.”

Sharra Ann MaxwellBachelor of Business in Accounting “For the final-year workplace experience as part of my Bachelor of Business I was placed in Deloitte’s Auckland office. I enjoyed meeting the other interns as well as experiencing corporate life. It was an amazing experience, with the Deloitte staff happy to take the time to coach us and nurture our understanding. It was amazing to put what we had learnt into practice.”