New learning initiative encourages job-ready graduates

What would you do with undo?

That was the question asked at Deakin University this week when 15 Public Relations and Animation students pooled their talent to create campaigns with just one word as inspiration.

At 9am, the keyword – 'undo' – was revealed and the PR students (the 'client') set about developing a detailed campaign brief to deliver at midday.

At midday, it was over to the Animation students (the 'agency') who received the briefs from the PR students. The Animation students then had just four hours to produce an animated piece that fits the client brief and encapsulates the keyword.

While the Animation students were hard at work during the afternoon, the PR students developed their own ePortfolio and took part in a blogging workshop with Deakin experts.

At 5pm, it was pens and mouses down as 'client' and 'agency' came together and the impressed client was presented with two unique 'animatics' (pre-production dynamic storyboards).

This animatic was produced by Animation students Maddie, Nick and Daryl. It was based on two scenes described by their group of PR students - a stress ball which, when squashed, could be undone and a tube of toothpaste which, when squished, could not be undone.

Ross Monaghan, Lecturer in Public Relations, said that the journey itself was the most important part of the exercise.

"We merely provided the tools – it was the students who pulled together as teams and used communicated lateral thinking and mind mapping processes to problem solve and develop a solution."

"Both groups did an amazing job to produce global campaigns against an extremely tight deadline."

Ross explained that intensive, real-life exercises like this one are an essential ingredient in producing job-ready graduates.

"Work Integrated Learning becomes more and more important as students progress. In first year, students work on real scenarios. In second year, they're completing internships with organisations like not for profits and retailers. By third year, theory and practice come together as students actually work with an employer in industry."

"The enthusiastic response to our call for participants really shows that there are students out there willing to do more than the course requires of them; who want to expand their skills in a whole range of areas."

Rosemary Woodcock, Discipline Coordinator for Animation and Motion Capture, explained that the project gives students the opportunity to work collaboratively and on non-assessed curricula, which introduces an industry perspective on the work they produced, but without the pressure and distraction of assessment.

"When students recognise the inherent value of creative work, it's a win-win for all concerned!"

"The leadership, teamwork, presentation, and creative problem-solving skills developed in a program like this are highly sought-after by industry, with dynamic and proactive graduates a step-ahead of the pack."

Work Integrated Learning Program

This pilot program is part of a broader Work Integrated Learning program at Deakin University which provides students with the opportunity to undertake an experiential learning placement as part of their degree. The hands-on and practical experience gained during internships, industry-based learning programs, community based volunteering and programs like this one, are a key part of developing 'job-ready' graduates.