Graduates In Demand.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19622, 1 February 1936, Page 3

Graduates In Demand.

POSTS WITH BUSINESS FIRMS. UNIVERSITY TRAINING. PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA. The progress that has been made in training Australian university students for executive and technical positions iln business a,ud in 'llie Public Service was discussed by Professor D. B. Copland, Dean oi I lie Faculty of CommerVe at the University of Melbourne, Avho has been visiting Christchurch. Professor Copland’s remarks had particular reference to the work being done at his own university, and lie said that the present demand by linns for university graduates was so heavy as to exceed the supply. An encouraging feature avus that the CommoiiAvealth Government each year recruited a number of graduates for its public service.

“In folloAving the example of Great Britain and the United States, the University of Melbourne lias made substantial progress in securing the co-operation of industrial and commercial firms in the task of recruiting both technical and executive officers from university graduates. An Appointment Board has been established at the university, and a full-time secretary appointed,” he said.

“At the moment the demand for graduates with good academic careers is considerably in excess of the supply. This demand by employers is most heavy for graduates in engineering, chemistry, economies and commerce. Training Not Specialised.

The university has not attempted to make its training more specialised; on the contrary the movement of university education is toAvards a more general training in fundamental subjects. Business firms, lioavover, are recognising more and more that the university can provide them with a limited number of able students, Avho will eventually fill important executive and technical positions. This is possible only after graduates have had the necessary experience under suitable conditions. The responsibility for providing this experience, and for training these graduates in business is a matter for the firms themselves, and is not less onerous than the responsibility of the universities in training students for business.

“It is the duty of the university to train students for their occupation, and it is the responsibility of business, as it is of the professions, to provide the experience necessary to equip the .student for effective Avork in his occupation,” Professor Copland said. “The importance of university I raining has also been recognised by Die Commonwealth Government, which now recruits regularly a limited number of graduates from all the Australian universities for the CominoiiAvealtli Public Service. ThU is a recent innovation Avhieh should prove mutually advantageous to the Government and the unh-orsities,” concluded Professor Copland.