аIJʹÙÍø

As an academic specialising in International Business, I teach MGMT5601 Global Business Environment, a core course for the аIJʹÙÍø Business School Master Program. In this dynamic field, providing students with real-world experience is crucial for their academic and professional development.

This postgraduate course has the clear objective of analysing industry at national and global levels. As such, I recognise the students’ need for practical exposure, particularly for those without an Australian undergraduate degree. Many of my international students face challenges in understanding where to start, who to approach, and how to engage with industry contacts in their desired fields.

As such, I have aimed to guide them through navigating the professional landscape:

"I'm lucky because I have SJ, and I have many chances to communicate with her. Every time we have questions or difficulties, she helps us. It is a pleasure to have her as my lecturer and tutor." - Yan Su, Master of Commerce Student, аIJʹÙÍø Business School

To address these challenges, the аIJʹÙÍø Sandbox Program, an initiative of the аIJʹÙÍø Business School, has played a crucial role in the course. With this Program, I've facilitated an understanding among students of the expectations, communication skills, and competencies required in their chosen industry:

"The most important thing I learned with the Sandbox Program is that we needed to get out of student-like thinking patterns and approach problems more realistically and practically. Because we are not always going to stay in school - we will work in real companies." - Xueke An, Master of Commerce Student, аIJʹÙÍø Business School

A key component of the аIJʹÙÍø Sandbox Program is the involvement of industry partners, exemplified by a collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Term 3, 2023. I worked with PwC representatives to scope a relevant real-world Sandbox challenge for my students – preparing an industry report analysing several contemporary issues that impact the global business landscape:

"We love this experience. Every time we do a Sandbox challenge, we're even more impressed by the insights and the energy. We as partners and as a firm learn a lot from the students. It's really important to connect with the students and, to the best of our ability, help and guide them. As a firm, we're very proud of what they have achieved." - Lorena Sosa, Partner at PwC Australia

To support students in completing the challenge, PwC representatives delivered guest lectures and hosted a showcase at their office. The engagement included discussions about job roles, challenges faced in the industry, and imparting knowledge on professional skills such as pitching and presenting.

"I'm glad that PwC did a really good tutorial in terms of how to do our presentation. They taught us presentation skills, and how we can do our slides better. It will be very practical in our future career." - Alvis Wai Yat Leung, Master of Commerce Student, аIJʹÙÍø Business School  

The innovative approach in the аIJʹÙÍø Sandbox Program not only enriched the educational experience of our students but also prepared them for the challenges and opportunities in the global business environment.

By fostering industry connections and practical learning opportunities, we enhanced both their academic journey and future success:

"Academic and professional skills are very different. When I was at university, I learned a lot about theory. But, when I entered the workforce, I discovered that presenting something to a client and solving real business problems was a very different skill set [to understanding theory]. In working with аIJʹÙÍø Sandbox students, we were able to bridge the gap between the two skills for them." - Clement Lui, Director at PwC Australia

I have now developed a stronger emphasis on the employability of my students. It has become clear to me that not only is it important to provide students with the theories of international business but also to teach them how to develop their critical thinking for creating data-led industry analysis.

Moreover, students need to enhance their professional and communication skills in the real world to bolster their employability.

"The challenge of Sandbox made me think critically about understanding the digital advertising industry and provided me with an opportunity to work with PwC: to share our ideas and thoughts. It was not just about learning the theory. It was also about learning how to communicate with others." - Ka Yau Lee, Master of International Business Student, аIJʹÙÍø Business School

As a result of my experience, I strongly believe that integrating Sandbox challenges into other courses is a great way to provide students with extra support and opportunities to understand business environments and industry challenges.