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
  • New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation
  • 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 (360 hours). 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.

More information

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

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Marijaan TaneBachelor of Arts in Māori Development and Bachelor of Business in Market Insights: Marketing, Advertising, Retailing and Sales conjoint programmeFor business student Marijaan Tane, one of the most memorable experiences has been completing her final-year workplace experience at the Starship Foundation.Deciding to study at AUT was easy, says Marijaan Tane who is currently in her final semester of her Bachelor of Arts in Māori Development and Bachelor of Business in Market Insights: Marketing, Advertising, Retailing and Sales conjoint programme. For Marijaan, one of the most memorable experiences has been completing her final-year workplace experience at the Starship Foundation.
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Matthew RylandBachelor of Business in AccountingThe workplace experience in his final year was one of the highlights of his studies, says accounting alumnus Matthew Ryland who worked as an intern at KPMG.The workplace experience in his final year was one of the highlights of his studies, says accounting student Matthew Ryland who worked as an intern at KPMG. Matthew will soon have more opportunities to spend time with the KPMG team – after graduating from AUT at the end of the year he will join KPMG as a graduate accountant in February.
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”