Bridging Academia and Industry: ICMS Students Intern at The Iconic

The journey from academia to industry can be daunting for students.

However, at the International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS), this transition is made seamless through the dedication of lecturers like Cara Wiggins.

Cara, who works at The Iconic in the menswear department, buying and planning, successfully brought The Iconic and ICMS together, through the ICMS Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, to organise an exclusive internship program for ICMS fashion students.

Through her efforts, students gain invaluable industry experience, preparing them for successful careers in the fashion world.

Quick links:

• Lecturers with industry connections
• The Internship Program at The Iconic
• The Value of Internship Experience
• A Successful Partnership
• Interns Inspired

Lecturers with industry connections

Cara Wiggins is not just a lecturer at ICMS; she is a seasoned industry professional with nearly a decade of experience at The Iconic.

Leveraging her dual role, she uniquely bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

“I’m a lecturer at ICMS, but I’ve also been in industry nearly 10 years now, so I’m able to bring that industry knowledge into the classroom and teach from experience as an academic,” Cara said.

“I bring industry skills and industry knowledge with real-life experiences into the classroom to share with students as part of the planning unit.

“It’s important for students in the classroom to hear from real industry professionals.

“They’re able to gain more insight into the skills required, the everyday responsibilities in the unit so that when they graduate they can then bring those skills into the workforce themselves.”

The Internship Program at The Iconic

Recently, students from the ICMS Bachelor of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management) program had the unique opportunity to intern at The Iconic.

This experience was made possible by Cara’s initiative and the strong relationship she cultivated between ICMS and The Iconic.

“My proudest moment as an academic is seeing our lovely students complete their internship here at The Iconic.

“From seeing them from the classroom to completing their internship, seeing their skills grow and the experiences they’ve gained here has been phenomenal.”

Internships are a cornerstone of the ICMS Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, which guarantees industry experience as part of every degree. This ensures that students are not just academically prepared but also industry-ready.

“For students aspiring to enter the fashion industry, a degree at ICMS is the perfect starting point,” Cara said.

“Between its WIL placements where they get industry experience, as well as the networking opportunities that we have available, will prepare students well for an opportunity in the industry.”

The Value of Internship Experience

Internships provide students with more than just work experience. They offer a chance to build connections with industry stakeholders and professionals, all of which adds up to an excellent start to a personally and professionally fulfilling career.

“An internship provides skills, connections to stakeholders, and industry professionals that students can then take upon graduation,” Cara said.

“Here at The Iconic, the interns have been invaluable.

“They’ve come with an amazing fresh, positive energy from day one, starting eager to get involved and already coming with the skills that have been taught in the classroom.

“For example, my students learned buying and planning and were able to take that into their buying internship. This means they already had an idea of assortment categories, trend analysis, and forecasting, and they were just so excited to take those skills into the industry.”

A Successful Partnership

The partnership between ICMS and The Iconic shows the power of industry-academia collaboration.

This alliance not only benefits the students but also brings fresh talent and new perspectives to The Iconic.

“ICMS already had so many incredible industry partnerships in the mix already.

“Together with the WIL team at ICMS and the HR team here, we identified a real need for fashion students to come through from an internship level to bring new skills for them to grow in the industry and be ready for any entry-level positions upon graduating.

“I’m very proud to say that this connection between ICMS and The Iconic was established last year under various efforts from both industry partners. I’m very excited for it to continue in the future.”

Interns Inspired

The real impact of these internships is best captured through the voices of the students themselves.

“Studying fashion and business together at ICMS has been really rewarding. The wide range of subjects has taught me useful skills that I can use in different jobs. The business part of the course especially has given me important workplace experience and tips on how to manage things, getting me ready for my future career.” – Lucinda Hickman, second year ICMS Bachelor of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management) student.

“Ever since starting at ICMS, I’ve uncovered so many job possibilities in the fashion world that I never knew existed. The program has really opened my eyes to the different career paths available in this industry.” – Indigo Kelly, second year ICMS Bachelor of Business (Fashion and Global Brand Management) student.

Watch this video to see how Lucinda Hickman grew through her internship at the Iconic.

• To read a Q&A with ICMS Fashion Interns at The Iconic, click here.
• To find out more about the ICMS Bachelor of Business (Fashion and Global Branding), click here.