Industry Cooperative Program

Last year, we welcomed the first recepient of a St Hilda’s College Industry Cooperative Scholarship, Lara Swenson. Carly & James chatted to Lara and our first industry partner, Northrop about what the experience has been like so far.

Lara, can you describe how you felt when you found out you were the recipient of this scholarship & internship package?

I was overwhelmed with joy, excitement and gratitude, and once I had received that phone call, my decision was made to move from QLD to Melbourne.

What was it like completing first year knowing you already had industry links?

Built-in industry connections removed a significant stress from my plate and allowed me to focus on settling into university life in a new state. Throughout the year, I had the pleasure to attend Northrop’s Melbourne social events, and this early industry connection inspired and motivated me through first year.

Tell us about your first instalment of the Summer internship and what you learnt?

I got to work closely with clients, builders, architects, drafters, civil, mechanical, electrical, and geotechnical engineers, sustainability consultants, and even arborists. I realized I enjoy working in a dynamic environment and that building strong connections and collaborating with others is a key strength of mine.

As an undergraduate structural engineer, I was exposed to a diverse range of tasks, including running calculations by hand and using computer software, learning about Australia’s standards, codes and building regulations, interpreting site reports and engineering plans, attending site inspections, participating in meetings, and enjoying office social activities such as lunchtime futsal games!

Site visits were definitely a highlight, I loved seeing the variety of construction projects across Melbourne and Ballarat. I also really enjoyed learning industry software, particularly modeling structures and observing how they respond to different loads.

What impact has the internship program had on you so far?

It’s significantly boosted my confidence and allowed me to see the bigger picture of how uni’s theoretical concepts apply in realworld industry practices. I feel more motivated, as I can visualise what my degree is preparing me for. Plus, having a headstart in classes by being familiar with engineering software, floor plans, and practical concepts is hugely beneficial.

I discovered that engineering involves far more than just mathematical equations and physics concepts. One of my favorite aspects of the internship was the opportunity to interact with a variety of professionals daily. I got to observe the structural engineering team collaborate

As an undergraduate student, this is an invaluable experience and I hope more companies/individuals consider this type of program. Even just gaining exposure to the industry—understanding what a typical day looks like, learning industry terminology, and exploring various career pathways—can have a profound impact on a young person’s career development. I know it is giving me a strong head start and fostering a deeper understanding of the profession; I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

Northrop’s reflections to James on the experience also highlights the value of this type of partnership.

Why invest in young people?

One of our core values is a focus on developing people to their full potential. This all starts in early careers where we believe in the benefits of a talent pipeline. By showing commitment to the development of our interns and graduates, in turn we see that they show commitment to our company and our industry.

Why the combination of scholarship & internship?

Internship programs are something that Northrop has always believed in. We have a well-developed early careers program that allows young professionals to engage with all levels of our business and all areas of our industry with the hope of inspiring them to take on the challenge of joining our team in future. Investing in people early is important to us.

The scholarship component of this agreement was an added bonus for Northrop to work with a college that has aligned values in the support of gender equality in an historically maledominated industry. We are passionate about programs that support and champion Women in STEM and this program allowed us to contribute in a meaningful way.

Why Hilda’s?

St Hilda’s has a strong track record of developing capable leaders who are engaged with the world around them.

Northrop sees great value in the leadership and professional development program that St Hilda’s builds for its students across three years which means that interns and early career professionals are coming to us already ahead of the curve and ready to hit the ground running. We also see great values alignment with St Hilda’s who have a clear focus on equity and access to education for otherwise underrepresented cohorts.

Why should more businesses take this step?

The industry co-operative program not only affords Northrop access to some incredible early career talent, but it allows us to show our commitment to important challenges like gender equity in STEM careers. It has been great to welcome the first summer intern to our site over summer and we look forward to their ongoing growth and development in coming years.

One year in, how has the experience been for you and your team so far?

St Hilda’s helpfully shortlisted some amazing candidates for this program and from the get go we were thrilled with the calibre of the candidates. Our inaugural intern has just finished their first summer internship and has been a great contributor to our team, absolutely absorbing every opportunity available to learn.

If you, or someone you know, may be interested in teaming up with St Hilda’s for a similar program, please get in touch with Principal, James Hardiman to find out more about our Industry Partnership Program.