Program Overview

Introduction to the PACE Internship Programme

The Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) programme is designed to enhance employability, build workplace confidence, and develop professional and personal employability skills and competencies. The programme allows students to apply what they are studying within an authentic workplace environment, earning credits towards their degree programme.

Benefits of the PACE Programme

• Enhance employability
• Build workplace confidence
• Develop professional and personal employability skills and competencies
• Establish professional networks and industry knowledge
• Utilise real-world work experiences to enhance learning and improve academic outcomes

PACE Courses

The following courses are available:

• PACE225: Workplace Skills and Corporate Social Responsibility (15 points, semester 1)
  • Pre-requisites: 60 points at any level from any subject
  • Description: Students work with a business to formulate a project proposal that furthers its corporate social responsibility objectives through community engagement.
• PACE295: Internship (15 points, semester 1, semester 2, and summer)
  • Pre-requisites: 90 points at any level from any subject, secondary application process with CV and interview, and permission of the Programme Coordinator
  • Description: Applies skills acquired through academic study to a project designed by a local company or community group in New Zealand or internationally.
• PACE390: Professional and Community Engagement Internship (15 points, semester 1, semester 2, and summer)
  • Pre-requisites: 150 points towards degree completion, secondary application process with CV and interview, and permission of the Programme Coordinator
  • Description: Provides an opportunity for practical application of disciplinary theory, skills, and knowledge during an internship in an approved business or community organisation.
• PACE395: Internship (30 points, semester 1, semester 2, and summer)
  • Pre-requisites: 150 points, secondary application process with CV and interview, and permission of the Programme Coordinator
  • Description: A critical, theoretical, and "real-world" examination of the practices and ideologies inherent in both community and business organisations.
• PACE495: Professional and Community Engagement Internship (30 points, semester 1 and semester 2)
  • Pre-requisites: Secondary application process with CV and interview, and permission of the Programme Coordinator
  • Description: Provides students with a placement within a business or organisation to gain experience in a professional workplace environment and develop skills and competences to gain a competitive edge upon graduation.

Kinds of Internships Available

Examples of different types of internship roles include:

• Environmental impact projects
• Urban planning
• GIS mapping
• Community engagement initiatives
• Research and report writing
• Data analysis
• Policy analysis and writing
• Accounting
• Project management
• Creative Arts administration
• Content creation
• Creative writing
• Exhibition curation
• Marketing strategies
• Event management
• Social media platform creation
• Coding
• Translation

Application and Enrolment Process

1. Decide which PACE course to take and the semester to complete it in.
2. Check with a student advisor to ensure enough points for the course and how it fits into the degree programme.
3. Enrol in PACE by the deadlines:
   • SU2: 8 October
   • S1: 8 January
   • S2: 20 May
4. Complete an interview to establish interests, area of study, and career aspirations.
5. The team will find an internship that is the best fit based on available projects and connect the student with that organisation.