The joint initiative between KPMG and Monash University’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Science and Wealth Creation will provide a career mentoring program for the students as well as the opportunity to participate in a management practicum into a problem of interest to KPMG. It is designed to develop the future leaders of both the academic and business sectors.
A highlight of the management practicum will be the awarding of the KPMG/Monash University Science and Industry Awards to the students who complete the most outstanding commercialisation projects each year.
The Centre’s Director, Monash Professor Michael Vitale said that the partnership between Monash University and KPMG was a further example of how the University was creating closer connections between academia and business.
“Initiatives like this are designed to develop the future leaders of industry; they help students better understand the needs of industry,” Professor Vitale said.
“The students will have the opportunity to develop their professional and personal skills through the mentoring program which will enhance their leadership potential in the workplace as well as benefit their university studies.”
Mr Rob Bazzani, KPMG Chairman of Victoria said the company was excited to be involved with the University in this way.
“We know that mentoring is extremely important in terms of greater engagement of our people and for them to be able to share their wider business and commercial experiences with the Monash Masters students,” Mr Bazzani said.
“At KPMG we are committed to diversity of talent and often recruit from non-accounting backgrounds. This involvement with the Science and Technology program gives us access to talent from a non business academic discipline who provide innovative and unexpected solutions to successful business outcomes.
We look forward to developing the relationship with Monash University over the next three years.”