Employability Award: How 53 students got more than a degree

28 Jul 2021

This semester Anneka Smith and 52 of her peers will graduate with more than just a degree, after achieving the Employability Award.

The Award recognises a graduate’s contribution in areas like volunteering, work experience and extra-curricular activities within UQ and the wider community.

In addition to finishing her dual program in Bachelors of Business Management and Science, Ms Smith has pursued a diverse range of experiences that extend far beyond the Award requirements. In particular, she has been awarded for presenting at a conference, undertaking a Global Experience and for her volunteer role in Youth Leadership. She has since secured a graduate role with Deloitte.

“The Employability Award experience was fulfilling, engaging and meaningful,” Ms Smith said.

“It was great to explore all the different activities and learn from others around me as to what programs are worth participating in during university. I really appreciated the flexible structure of the Employability Award because it guided and pushed me outside my comfort zone to enhance my employability.”

The program is coordinated by Student Enrichment and Employability Development and is available to all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students looking to Get the Edge.

Throughout the program, students are encouraged to participate in and reflect on experiences to understand what capabilities and attributes they have developed.

It culminates with an application and interview process where participants must demonstrate their ability to effectively communicate their employability during the recruitment process and beyond.

All recipients are issued with a certificate upon graduation and have the Employability Award listed as a Special Achievement on their academic transcript.

For those of you considering the Award, Ms Smith suggests getting started on it early and being open to where the Award can take you. “It really is one of the easiest and best things to do for your employability.”

The University of Queensland wishes to congratulate the following Employability Award recipients for Semester One, 2021.