'Graduates are crying out for applied learning experiences'
Fresh graduates in Australia have admitted that they find it hard to secure a job after graduating because of gaps between their education and skills required by employers.
This is the case for architecture and design graduates, where an average of 32% find themselves without employment opportunities, according to CO-Architecture, citing data from Australian labour market data and graduate surveys.
"I have spoken to so many graduates and working professionals and they all agree that it's extremely difficult to secure a job after university because their studies do not align with what employers are looking for," said CO-architecture co-founder Kevin Mitchem in a media release.
"Fundamentally, universities focus on theoretical knowledge and creative exploration, while employers want practical skills, technical know-how, and an understanding of real-world constraints like budgets and timelines. Graduates are crying out for applied learning experiences."
CO-Architecture said this gap would leave graduates "ill-prepared" for the practical demands of their jobs, making them struggle in transitioning from university to the workplace.
For employers, they will need to "invest significantly in training new hires" to address the gap, which CO-Architecture said would likely impact productivity and financial resources.
Bridging the gap for graduates
To address the problem, CO-architecture has launched the country's first digital campus to close the skills gap by supporting architecture and design graduates in entering the workforce.
"CO-academy bridges this gap by helping graduates gain the practical skills employers seek in design and architecture," Mitchem said.
Its strategy includes "creating synergies between educational theory and practical application," according to the CO-Architecture website.
According to CO-Architecture, employers can reap the following benefits on this approach:
- Reduced training costs and time
- Access to a pool of skilled talent
- Enhanced innovation and creativity
- Improved project efficiency
- Stronger industry-academia collaboration
- Long-term industry benefits by producing future leaders
- Network expansion and partnerships through collaborative opportunities
"Taking a holistic approach that combines mentoring, and networking with curricular revisions that incorporate practical applications, industry-relevant skills, and internships within educational programs will better prepare graduates for the challenges of the professional world," the company said on its website.
