ICMS the only Private Provider Finalist in AFR Higher Education Awards 2023

The International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) was the sole private provider of higher education that stood as a finalist in the employability category in the Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards 2023 held this week at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

The AFR Higher Education Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the Australian Higher Education sector. The awards were open to all institutions, public and private, offering Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications at associate degree level and above.

Out of around 170 higher education providers in Australia, ICMS was one of five finalists, and the only private provider, selected in the Employability category. The other finalists were Victoria University, La Trobe University, University of New South Wales and eventual winner, Griffith University.

“For years ICMS has lived and breathed employability, and to be recognised as a finalist in the Employability category of the AFR Higher Education Awards is a proud moment for everyone at the college, all of whom mentor and encourage the employability of our students, all day, every day,” said Dr Stuart Wiggins, ICMS Pro Vice Chancellor (Employability).

Recognition of ICMS’ Commitment to Graduate Employability

ICMS’ submission to the AFR Higher Education Awards – The Power of a whole of institution, mentoring approach to employability – outlined ICMS’ commitment to empowering students to become employable  in their chosen fields.

The institute of higher education, located in Northern Beaches, Sydney, NSW, and in the city of Sydney, has shown, and grown, this commitment since it was founded almost 30 years ago.

In addition to an existing industry-leading Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, with work placements embedded in each degree offered, ICMS raised the bar in 2022/23* resulting in a 100% employment rate at graduation**.

A range of complimentary strategies were introduced in 2022 to benefit students in their journey to chosen professions. These included:

* ICMS is The Professional Mentor brand position;

* The Professional Development Lab to provide a vehicle for stronger industry liaison, networking opportunities for students and other employability development initiatives. These include ICMS Masterclasses; ICMS TV with industry expert video content; and ICMS WeMentor TikTok success tips on students’ preferred platform; and

* The ICMS Employability Framework that identifies the elements of ICMS’ holistic approach to employability.

In 2023, ICMS adopted the institutional vision of becoming ‘Australia’s leading industry-focused University College’, the achievement of which would be impossible without all staff of the college contributing and without holistic approaches to student employability.

“These ‘whole of institution’ approaches are innovative, and unique, through their belief that every staff member, in every interaction with a student, can impact on that student’s employability,” Dr Wiggins said.

“The multi-layered strategies are complimentary to each other, supported as best practice through benchmarking and academic research, and delivered through engaging and contemporary media. There is no other higher education institution in Australia, public or private, that matches this holistic approach.”

For more information about ICMS, click here.

* AFR entries were judged based on core achievements that have taken place in the period January 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023.

**Graduates who are engaged in or available for work (In the Labour force). Internal March Graduate Survey 2023. Please note that the employment statistics provided in this article are based on a survey of graduates who are in the labour force and have completed the survey. This excludes individuals who are not in the labour force, including those who are unable to work, as well as those who choose not to work.