Work with our students

Our students contribute insight and knowledge that benefit our industry and community partners. Industry and community organisations have a range of options for working with our students.

Benefits for industry / community partners

Students bring fresh ideas, creativity and up-to-date knowledge
Students are enthusiastic, motivated and inspiring
Opportunity to address a specific need or problem
No cost involved for students’ hours spent as part of their course – anything further is by negotiation
Satisfaction of contributing to development of talented young people
Opportunity to help ensure graduates have the skills and experience industry needs
Opportunity to get to know students, potentially reducing cost and risk of recruitment
Invitation to attend presentations and exhibitions of student work

Benefits for students

We value partnerships with industry and community to help us provide students with valuable real world learning opportunities. Students need to be provided with work opportunities that are both suitable for their capabilities at the relevant level of study, and reasonable to expect of them in the time they have available. The work must provide a constructive learning opportunity for the students, so it is a win/win for the organisation and the students. The details of the work to be done will be scoped with an organisation and recorded in a three-way agreement.

Overview of options

This is an overview of the many different ways that industry and community partners can work with our students during their learning to benefit themselves and the students. This overview is subject to the particular requirements for a particular programme and course.

Overview	Work Experience	Apprenticeship	Internship Fieldwork, placement, studio, integrated practice	Clinical Placement Fieldwork	Applied Research Project Capstone, studio, community project
What students do	Observe and learn to be work-ready	Structured learning on the job	Apply knowledge and skills in work role	Mandatory clinical experience, required for registration	Apply knowledge and skills to solve a real world need or problem
What industry/ community partner does	Provide and supervise work	Provide and supervise work	Provide and supervise work	Provide work and clinical supervision	Identify a need or problem for students to solve
Location	Usually at partner site	At partner site	At partner site	At partner site	At Otago Polytechnic, may include site visits
Subject areas	Foundation	Carpentry, Automotive, Electrical Technology	Sport & Adventure, Art, Social Services, Design, Applied Management, Mental Health, Vet Nursing, Midwifery, Disability, Career Practice, Engineering, Construction, Living Sciences, Central Otago programmes	Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Counselling	Computing & IT, Nursing, Applied Management, Occupational Therapy, Design, Engineering, Construction, Living Sciences, Sport, Central Otago programmes

With the exception of apprenticeships, students’ time is usually unpaid because they are engaged in learning as part of their course of study.

You can also support our students’ learning through participation in one of our Permanent External Advisory Committees. Read more here.

What an organisation can expect of students

An organisation can expect students to:

apply skills they have acquired already through classroom exercises, workshops, case studies, scenarios and simulations
spend a minimum number of hours
perform to a standard relative to their level of study
be available for an agreed period
be respectful, culturally safe, and attentive
comply with Otago Polytechnic policies including ethics
be kept informed of progress

What we expect of an organisation

We expect a partner organisation to:

be interested in our students’ development
provide students with the information they need to do their work
identify any information that is confidential
be reasonably available to meet with students
provide feedback to students in a constructive manner
complete a report at completion of the project
raise any concerns with the students' supervisor in a timely way
meet health and safety obligations when students are on your premises

What an organisation can expect of Otago Polytechnic

An organisation can expect us to:

provide students and industry/community partners with relevant additional information specific to a programme or course
work with an organisation and the student/s to scope the work for the students’ skill level and time available and for the organisation’s needs
document the arrangements between the student, the organisation and Otago Polytechnic
be clear about who will bear which costs (if any)
match students for a good fit with an organisation
group students, where applicable, with complementary strengths
monitor students’ progress
address any concerns in a timely way

Confidentiality

The privacy of the personal information of an organisation’s patients or clients will be respected by Otago Polytechnic and our students.
An organisation’s confidential information will not be used or disclosed by students or by Otago Polytechnic except as required to complete internal course-related documentation.
Student work may be promoted publicly by Otago Polytechnic and by the students.

Exclusion of liability

Neither the students nor Otago Polytechnic have any liability for an organisation’s use of the students’ work.
Neither the students nor Otago Polytechnic give any guarantee that the work produced by the students will be able to be used by the organisation without additional work and/or costs of implementation.

Intellectual Property

Students own the intellectual property they create (for example designs, software) unless otherwise negotiated.
An organisation has the right to use the students’ work (non-exclusive licence).

Work Placement Policy

Access our Work Placements and OSH for Learners in the Workplace Policy online.

Permanent External Advisory Committee

Another way to support our students' learning and help ensure our graduates are ready for employment, is to become an industry member of one of our Permanent External Advisory Committees.

Study areas

If you are interested in working with us but you're not sure which of these subject areas is most relevant for your issue or need, or if you have a multidisciplinary project in mind, please contact us by emailing the research office.

You can also read about our student and staff research in our monthly magazine, Relevant Research, available online here.