Choose a uni that helps you make an impact

Even while you’re focused on deciding what course you’ll study next year, plenty of people will already be asking you: “What do you want to do after uni?”

It might be easy to answer if you already have a dream job in mind and the university course that will help you land it. But it’s a big question to throw at you if you’re not sure what you want to do after uni and instead are keeping your career options open.

Either way, the world of work is being transformed (just think of the dramatic impact of AI); jobs don’t stay the same, and it’s possible you’ll have more than one career in your lifetime.

So, at a time of massive change, how does a uni course set you on a path to achieve your ambition, or open avenues that ensure you can adapt and have an impact in whatever path you take after university?

An academic qualification – a diploma or degree – is at the heart of what universities offer and what employers will look at when you apply for a job.

But surveys show employers are looking for more than academic achievement. They prize analytical and creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, leadership and social skills – and the fast-growing demand for skills in AI and technology literacy.

Many of those same skills were mentioned by employers with whom La Trobe University consulted when building its Career Ready Advantage , a program designed to prepare students for the workplace.

It’s based on a framework focused on building capabilities – communications and literacy skills allowing you to build relationships, personal and professional skills of leadership and teamwork, and analytical skills that allow you to interpret data.

To shape those skills, the Career Ready Advantage’s integrated package is built into undergraduate courses. It has three components: access to professional learning; support with gaining practical experience in workplaces and community activities; and a career portfolio that showcases your skills, experience and accomplishments to potential employers.

Academic courses remain the essential foundation. If you’re in year 12, you’ll need to check universities’ online course guides to see if they offer the range of subjects you’re interested in and if you meet entry requirements.

A good place to start is La Trobe’s Year 12 Hub which has handy links to useful resources that will help you navigate application processes. You can also explore La Trobe’s extensive and growing range of course offerings , in diverse disciplines including health, science, engineering, arts, law and IT. A new addition is an Australian first – an honours degree in artificial intelligence engineering .

Depending on your lifestyle, you might want to consider if the university offers you flexibility so you can blend online study to your on-campus degree.

And depending on where you live, you’ll want to check campus locations.