Information for Employers
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Engineering students at Victoria University of Wellington graduate with Honours degrees in Electronics and Computer Systems, Network Engineering and Software Engineering.
These students need to compete at least 800 hours of work experience within the engineering and ICT industry as part of their degree.
Our students also gain engineering practice through undergraduate and Honours level project work – both as individuals and in groups. These projects are encouraged to be industry focused and can be based on ideas proposed by industry.
Suitable Work
For a second year student, work can be in any engineering or ICT related area. Third year students however, should be offered work requiring more knowledge and skills in areas related to the use, administration, design or implementation of engineering and ICT related systems or processes.
Students typically begin work experience after their second year and either continue part time during the year, or complete it in the summer after the third year of study. The 800 hours is generally made up of more than one placement and each should be at least 150 hours, although shorter times will be considered.
Pay Rates
On average students are paid $15 – 25 per hour, depending on the work offered, but there is no requirement that work experience is paid employment.
Students can carry out basic IT help desk work through to software development and testing. Students in their third or fourth years are generally paid more, to reflect their greater experience.
Some students work as volunteers in the not for profit sector and if this work is engineering or ICT related, it is considered equivalent to paid work experience.
Note: this information should be seen as only a guideline to setting remuneration rates.
The Process
Taking on a student for work experience is a simple process.We provide the student with a simple, multi-part form to be completed by the student and authorised by the employer.
Before work begins, we register the work being offered to the student, obtain some contact details and from a brief job description, determine that the work is suitable.
At the end of employment, we require notice of how many hours have been worked by the student and encourage your feedback about the work experience with a voluntary feedback form.
About Our Students
Students in the Bachelor of Engineering programme choose one of the following majors or specialisations:
- Electronic & Computer Systems Engineering (ECEN)
- Network Engineering (NWEN)
- Software Engineering (SWEN)
The programme lays foundations in:
- programming and computer science
- electronic engineering
- engineering fundamentals
- mathematics
- statistics
At the end of their second year, BE students will have a broad practical perspective in engineering and ICT and will have begun their specialisation in one of the BE majors.
By the end of their third year, students will have undertaken significant group project work and have advanced in the study of their major subject.
Their knowledge base and skill set is broadly equivalent to students studying for a BSc in computer science, electronics or computer engineering.
Students then return for a fourth year to obtain their Honours degree.
Offering Internships
There are several ways to connect with our students:- Work with the Summer of Tech internship programme. They provide an opportunity to meet and select potential employees and benefit from TechNZ funding.
- Offer work experience directly to a BE student by emailing the Job Description, student criteria, commencement date, duration and contact details to be-work@ecs.vuw.ac.nz
- Set up a web access account so your Job Description can be entered directly into the Vic Careers system – CareerHub.
Contact Us
Please contact the Work Experience Coordinator via email at:
Ramesh Rayudu is currently responsible for the Work Experience programme.