3 pathways to Business in Australia and New Zealand

25 Aug 2017

The idea of gaining a business qualification before entering the workplace can seem somewhat of an enigma to some, with various corporate professionals stating: “Just get experience working in a company”. Now, in this rapidly-changing world, that opinion has changed dramatically. It now seems that industry professionals are increasingly aware of the need for a strong academic foundation. Through the right course, the ideal path can be forged to a successful business career.

Despite several countries’ efforts to scale down their globalisation policies over the last few years, the same cannot be said for almost every major business, particularly those nestled within the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Here, business is booming and there is no sign of it slowing down any time soon. While many people associate large companies with Silicon Valley and the London equivalent at Old Street, the APAC arguably offers more successful companies that do not resemble vast, bureaucratic conglomerates.

This has led to business qualifications slowly becoming a hallmark of universities, colleges and learning centres all over the world. Students are often lured to these courses by the prospect of higher wages than their contemporaries and better employment opportunities. The courses teach numerous techniques in business management and strategy that can be transferred into real business situations.

This growth in business courses is reflected in Australia and New Zealand. After a steady decline over half a decade, the course is bouncing back in a big way. In Oceania, applications for business courses rose by 21 percent last year alone. Many are putting Oceania’s increased interest down to the sheer volume of productive Asian markets out there. With so many cities and business sectors from which you can choose, now is a good time to be a business student in Australia or New Zealand.

On Australian soil, the future is looking bright for business graduates. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Australian businesses outperformed their projected share of the market in PwC’s Global Top 100 Survey.

As an avenue into the more lucrative businesses around, many people have turned to pathway qualifications. These are diplomas and certificates designed to give the students choice; they can either continue education after the course is up, or they can enter the workplace with the knowledge they can instantly make an impact. This makes them perfect for international students looking to fast-track themselves abroad in what may be an unfamiliar education system.

With that being said, let’s look at the Schools shaping the next business leaders in Australia and New Zealand…

AUSTRALIAN VOCATIONAL LEARNING CENTRE

Australian Vocational Learning Centre (AVLC) is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and boutique business college that reaches out to international students to take up study in Parramatta; the gateway to success in Western Sydney. The study of relevant business principles is of the utmost importance to the AVLC. Situated over two floors in one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, this college pledges a stellar international learning experience enriched by cultural diversity and a high level of customer care.

AVLC’s Diploma of Social Media Marketing is the prime example of this. The practice of commercialising social media and using it to your advantage is a key element that many businesses expect new employees to firmly grasp. Not only will this course teach students the ins-and-outs of social media, it also exposes students the strategies and implementation plans needed to thrive within the realm of social media marketing.

On top of all this, AVLC invests in up-to-date learning resources from globally-recognised brands, employing industry experts to give students the most cutting-edge industry knowledge. This represents an opportunity to receive in-depth training and highly sought-after skills that simply don’t exist anywhere else in Australia.

AVLC’s Diploma of Social Media Marketing is the nation’s only accredited course of its kind. Over the last 12-months, there have been 10,000 job opportunities available for social media marketing, with the discipline being deemed one of the most vital tools to promoting new business by entrepreneurs.

By the end of this course, you will be able to confidently pursue the Social Media components of a marketing plan. Post-diploma, this plug-and-play ability is very enticing to businesses not only in Australia, but also worldwide. This course is only one of many that the AVLC has to offer students whom want to develop solid business foundations.

“My one year in AVLC was very transformative. It embellished my personal skills along with my studies and made me out spoken,” says AVLC alumni Gagandeep Kaur. As a pathway to other business opportunities, “transformative” is certainly a word you want to hear from those who have studied at AVLC.

CURTIN COLLEGE

There’s so much to like about Curtin College, which forms part of Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. The College’s Business and Commerce course allows students to choose from 18 majors to ensure a level of flexibility when choosing modules. The College’s integrated pathway to the wider University is also a fantastic way to kick-start your journey into business studies at Curtin University.

“Our vision is to provide access to an extensive range of learning opportunities that meet the needs of our students in a challenging global education environment,” says Andrew Crevald, College Director and Principle. “Our goal, is to provide you with qualifications and skills that will prepare you success in your chosen discipline at Curtin University.”

Through specialised study in your chosen business major at Curtin University, you will gain the theoretical and practical skills you need to be confident and industry-ready when you graduate.

The course teaches the fundamentals of business law, marketing and economics among many more core modules. This allows the student to hone in on their desired business specialty whilst maintaining proficiency of all business fields.

Curtin College also features an Academic Peers Program whereby excelling students are given the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise with other students. Certainly, a bonus when adjusting to a foreign academic system.

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE OF STUDIES

The Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS) shows why Australia’s often overlooked neighbour should not be ignored when it comes to high-quality education.

The Institute offers a business bachelor and graduate diploma in the heart of New Zealand’s most populous city. Studying Business at the AIS will equip you with the skills you need to succeed in a career in a dynamic and export-oriented market, and in a large range of business roles both locally and overseas.

You will develop the skills and understanding required to work with people from different countries and cultures, and learn effective strategies for penetrating international markets. Students of Business benefit from the knowledge and opportunity to network with industry professionals who regularly visit as guest speakers, and have available additional short workshops that accompany and complement their chosen programme.

“Teachers get to know students on a personal level,” says Karina Neilsen, a Russian native. “They knew I wanted to become a Chartered Accountant so would suggest job placements and opportunities to build my wider network in New Zealand. When you come to a new country, you have plenty of questions so it is nice to have support on hand.”

New Zealand is increasingly seen as one of the most free and open marketplaces in the world. Backed up by an export industry worth NZ$40 million, a major feat for a nation of just under five million people, there are plenty of pathways after studying at AIS.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International