Engage with our graduate researchers

Engage with Masters and PhD students for industry innovation

Students bring a fresh perspective, new skills and innovative approaches to your workplace, while giving you the chance to promote your organisation and profile future graduates. Working with our students can help to:

• find real-world solutions to your challenges
• develop future research leaders for industry
• bring ideas, knowledge networks and innovative thinking to you.

How it works

Work with soon-to-graduate Master of Philosophy and PhD candidates on a short term, 2-5 month industry project, which you will develop with the student and an academic mentor. Our research students will then work with you to deliver rapid solutions to your business challenges and develop new product ideas.

Working together with our students, you'll be able to:

• explore new ideas and projects
• build and extend relationships with our academics and students
• contribute to the quality of professional practice
• improve the learning outcomes of students, ensuring graduates are ready for the future of your industry or business
• benefit from the value research graduates can offer to industry.

We provide:

• a research student waiting for examination of their thesis
• access to QUT facilities and academic supervision.

You provide

• funding for the internship, e.g., $10,000 for a three month internship

You can access government rebate and tax incentives to minimise cost. Additionally, any intellectual property remains with the industry partner.

What are the benefits?

The benefits for your industry are numerous, including:

• fast turnaround and accelerated innovation (outputs of the project are outlined in the project plan, and students are monitored with milestones throughout project)
• academic support from QUT to help identify problems and propose solutions
• valuable access to new research talent
• the opportunity to fill skills gaps in your industry
• flexibility to design standalone projects, or work within bigger projects (including scoping and follow-up work for larger projects and grants).

Students benefit from the experience by:

• participating with and in industry on real-world problems to improve their education experience
• developing greater connections with the world of work
• understanding themselves in relation to their career development, their academic studies and transition to employment
• building their workforce preparation and adaptability
• creating industry networks and enhancing their CV
• increasing their employability
• developing their soft skills
• turning their thesis into practice on an industry problem.

How are students prepared for the workplace?

Our Graduate Research Education and Development framework equips our students with real-world skills and learning outcomes throughout their research journey, helping prepare them for their lives after graduation. To help them prepare for their internships, we offer:

• transferable skills development through the Graduate Research Education and Development framework
• a briefing and preparation module
• career education and support
• support throughout the program
• tailored pre-internship training for specific technical skills they may need.

Students are briefed on:

• the purpose and aims of the internship
• roles, tasks and expectations for meeting learning outcomes
• workplace rights and responsibilities.

It's important that you, as an industry partner, also provide an induction to the workplace, including supporting students to work in a healthy and safe work environment.

Do students have insurance during internships?

Yes, enrolled students participating in approved internship activities are insured by QUT. Contact our partnership office by emailing hdr.intern@qut.edu.au if you require an insurance certificate of currency.