International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) Bachelor of Business Management student Paige Rutherford graduates this year having chosen to study locally and commute to campus throughout her degree.
The three things Rutherford has enjoyed about studying close to home?
“One, it’s a short distance to travel to study; two, I have been able to maintain my current jobs; and three, I got to keep my life routine when transitioning from high school to ICMS.”
Rutherford, who lives in Avalon, has been an off campus student of the ICMS main campus in Northern Beaches, Sydney, NSW, since completing her Year 12 at Barrenjoey High School.
“When I was 17 and deciding my tertiary education plan I was nervous that I could make the wrong decision for my future self but also excited to move forward from high school. Now I am completely confident in the direction I am going for my future and can’t wait to see what lies after ICMS.”
Initially attracted to the career-focused approach and smaller classes of ICMS, Rutherford has also enjoyed the online-learning rolled out earlier this year when campus was closed amid the global Covid-19 pandemic. The ongoing health crisis has forced many students to reconsider studying abroad or travelling across states to pursue further education.
“I will be happy for the face to face learning and the social aspect (of studying when classes resume), but learning online fits into my work schedule and with time saving,” Rutherford said.
Rutherford is excited for the future beyond graduation and is hoping to steer her career in the direction of visual merchandising and design.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) was a drawcard for Rutherford, and ICMS industry partners are matched with students who have work placement built into their courses. This means that 100% of ICMS students graduate with real world work experience, giving them a head start in an increasingly competitive job market.
She completed her internship at JMD Ross Insurance Brokers in St Leonards, North Sydney.
“I chose to study at ICMS because in the business industry now it’s not just about having the degree, you need the experience to go with it to stand out from other business students. ICMS can provide the combination of a degree and experience.”
She has no regrets about studying close to home, and is in the perfect position to launch straight into her career from a solid starting point with a strong social and professional network.
“Another reason I chose ICMS was because I liked the smaller size of ICMS compared to universities in Sydney – I am the type of student who needs that one on one learning experience and being able to ask questions during the lectures. I have made friends at ICMS, everyone is excited to meet to new people and hopefully become friends… I really enjoy studying with international students – it gives an international perspective on topics first hand rather than textbook knowledge or media outlets. It is always interesting in lectures to listen to the differences between their home countries and Australia,” Rutherford said.
For more information on ICMS, click here: https://www.icms.edu.au
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