Skilled Migrant Professionals Spring 2016 | Page 30

Training For The Real World THE AUSTRALIA-INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WORKPLACE TRAINING (AIWT) is all about changing people’s lives through education and training. Now, more than ever before, new entrants into the workforce need to be competitive to secure their career and future prospects. It is no longer simply a case of acquiring the right qualifications – employers are looking for skills that aren’t taught from a textbook. Soft skills, such as interpersonal and communication skills, and emotional intelligence (EI), differentiate one candidate from the rest of the applicants. But, can these skills be readily learnt? The short answer is yes – everyone has the ability to pick up these skills and become more work-ready in the process. The staff at AIWT pride themselves on giving students the opportunity to develop more indepth practical abilities in these soft skills, as well as the usual discipline and industry-specific knowledge and understanding. These opportunities include industry-based excursions, guest speakers, practicum (where course structure and time permits), and workshops focusing on communication and EI in particular. Besides these opportunities, trainers also pass on invaluable ‘tidbits’ acquired through their own first-hand knowledge of workplace practices and situations. They make time to mentor students in order to increase their understanding of the challenges they will face once they enter the workforce, as well as how they can most effectively address such matters. In this way, AIWT provides a truly unique learning experience to its students to ensure graduates are real-world ready! 30 www.smpmagazine.com.au | Spring 2016