Commerce students branch out

University of Otago bachelor of commerce intern Sarah Laurenson will work at CRT for the year under a new programme. In the background are (from left) the university's school of business dean, Prof George Benwell, CRT credit manager Chris Evenson, CRT chief financial officer Judy Bevin and CRT management accountant Deryk Cleland. Photo by Jane Dawber.

Unlike other intern courses, which are for short periods, students are placed with companies for six to 12 months to get work experience, and host businesses can have the students work on special projects.

Internship co-ordinator Jan Hudson said applicant students had to meet minimum academic standards and were assessed for other attributes, such as attitude and motivation.

She said it soon become clear employers wanted more than students with academic ability.

"It has become clear to us from employer feedback that what they want is people who are motivated and good with clients."

Two and a-half years into her BCom double major course, Sarah Laurenson has started as an intern with the rural servicing company CRT and will work from the company's Dunedin offices as a fixed-term employee.

Ms Laurenson will have university assignments associated with her internship. She has also opted to continue studying a course paper in addition to working with CRT Finance and accountancy divisions, completing small company projects and helping with a major group project.

CRT chief financial officer Judy Bevin said taking on an intern was a major decision.

Systems and structures needed to be put in place and the intern had to fit in with the company culture and be a good communicator, attributes they found in Ms Laurenson.

The university's dean of the School of Business, Prof George Benwell, estimated 20% of the 3200 bachelor of commerce students sitting the course would qualify for an internship.

He said chemistry students had laboratories to get work experience and geology students could go into the field, but business students had struggled to get work experience.

Prof Benwell said there was evidence of academic gains from internships and it also helped create better grounded students.

"It's our task to grow young people socially and professionally, and this is one way of doing that."

The university was seeking other businesses throughout New Zealand to host interns.