How Strong Industry Ties Are Getting ICMS Grads Hired

Almost 50% of surveyed graduates who were employed reported working for the same organisation where they completed their Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement (ICMS Internal Graduate Survey 2025, conducted October 2025). That number set the tone for the college’s annual Industry Partner Lunch, where ICMS gathered the employers who make that result possible and said thank you.

Held at the ICMS Northern Beaches Campus, the lunch brought together industry partners, staff and students from across every field the college teaches.

Programs represented included the Bachelor of Business, the Bachelor of Hospitality Management, the Bachelor of Business (International Tourism), the Bachelor of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management), the Bachelor of Event Management, the Bachelor of Business (Sport Management), the Bachelor of Information Technology, the Bachelor of Business (Marketing), the Bachelor of Property (Development, Investment and Valuation) and the Bachelor of Business (Accounting).

Among those represented were Bvlgari Australia, IQTERRA Technologies, Capella Hotels, Four Seasons Sydney, GWS Giants, Hilton Sydney, LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics Group, Shangri-La Sydney, StrategyOne Sports and local supporter Manly Chamber of Commerce.

The link between strong industry partnerships and strong graduate outcomes was the thread running through the whole afternoon.

“We truly value our partnerships with you,” said Dr Stuart Wiggins, Pro Vice Chancellor (Employability) and Registrar.

“We want to continue to work harder to build a super-highway from ICMS classrooms into your real-world professional environments that ultimately bring our students’ learning to life.”

 

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A Live Classroom in Action

The lunch itself was a working example of what ICMS students can do. 

A Bachelor of Event Management class planned and delivered the entire event under the guidance of lecturer Nicole Walker. 

Bachelor of Hospitality Management students handled the service on the day, giving guests a direct look at the practical skills ICMS students develop on placement. 

Natalie Harrison, Professional Placement and Alumni Manager with the WIL team, opened the event on behalf of staff and students. 

“Your support helps strengthen ICMS’ industry-focused approach,” she said. 

Natalie also outlined what WIL looks like in practice at ICMS: site visits, guest lecturers, masterclasses and, of course, professional placements. 

“Today, we gather to celebrate your relationship with ICMS and embrace the transformative power of Work Integrated Learning,” she said. 

The Numbers Behind the Handshake

Every ICMS bachelor’s and master’s degree includes two trimesters of professional placement, a minimum of 600 hours. The ICMS Internal Graduate Survey 2025 provides a snapshot of the outcomes reported by that year’s graduate cohort. 

In 2025, the WIL team facilitated 790 placements across 497 industry partners.

Of those, 318 were new partners, with notable growth in programs including the Master of Business Administration. 

The survey results offer a clear picture of where graduates landed: 

• Among surveyed graduates who were in the workforce, 86% were employed at the time of the survey. This compared favourably with national graduate outcomes data reported in the 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey.

• Many surveyed graduates were employed by the same organisation where they completed their WIL placement, with almost 50% reporting this outcome. 

QILT (Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching) is Australia’s national survey program that measures higher education outcomes, including graduate employment. You can find out more at https://www.qilt.edu.au/. 

“In 2025, almost 50% of surveyed graduates are now employed by the same organisation where they completed their Work Integrated Learning (WIL) placement (ICMS Internal Graduate Survey 2025, conducted October 2025). That’s impressive, and thank you,” Dr Wiggins told guests. 

Dr Wiggins also shared partner feedback collected by the WIL team during 2025. Employers described students as professional, reliable and adaptable, and noted that students contributed meaningfully in workplace settings. 

Celebrating Students and Partners

The WIL team acknowledged students who went above and beyond during their placements, delivering strong results in industry while keeping up with their academic studies. 

From the Tourism, Hospitality and Events stream, Hyo Joo Lim (Park Hyatt Sydney) and Oscar Arroyo (West Hotels by Hilton) were recognised. 

From the Business and Management stream, awards went to Issabella Bergan (Under Armour), Liberti Lorefice (Supercars NSW) and Daniel Alves de Souza (Omdigi Group). 

Daniel* moved to Australia to start a new chapter, and his Master of Business Administration placement at Omdigi Group proved to be a strong fit. 

“Moving here meant stepping into the unknown,” he said. “Omdigi gave me an environment where I could actually put my studies into practice, and ICMS gave me the opportunity to get there.” 

Two long-standing partners also received recognition. LVMH recently hosted its 35th ICMS student, marking five continuous years of partnership across a range of disciplines. Ubisoft celebrated a decade with ICMS, having hosted more than 30 students over that time. 

30 Years and Counting

The lunch fell in a milestone year as ICMS turns 30 in 2026. 

Work Integrated Learning has been a core part of the ICMS model since the college’s early years, and that commitment continues to be reflected in graduate outcomes. 

ICMS was a finalist in the 2025 AFR Australian Higher Education Awards in the Employability category. This was its second nomination, following a 2023 nomination in the same category. 

Industry partnerships form a central part of ICMS’ employability model.

As Dr Wiggins made clear on the day, they are essential to what ICMS does, and the college is focused on strengthening those relationships for the next 30 years. 

 Disclaimer: Graduate employment and placement outcomes cited in this article are based on ICMS internal data, graduate survey results and partner feedback available at the time of publication. The ICMS Internal Graduate Survey 2025 was conducted in October 2025 and received responses from 63% of the 2025 graduate cohort. Employment outcomes are calculated from graduates who were in the workforce — that is, those who were either employed or actively seeking employment. Graduates who indicated they were not seeking employment are excluded from these results. Individual outcomes may vary depending on course, industry conditions, employer requirements and student performance. Employer names, testimonials and individual graduate outcomes are provided as examples only and should not be interpreted as representative of all student experiences or as a guarantee of employment. References to external organisations, employers and awards are included for contextual and illustrative purposes only. 

*Source: Daniel Alves LinkedIn