PACE Internship Programme

Professional & Community Engagement

The PACE Internship Programme offers unique Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) courses which allow students to apply what they are learning during their degree to the real world. By completing a PACE Internship at UC, students work on a project with a local business or organisation while also earning academic course credits.

A PACE Internship is an ideal complement to a students core subject and will help them not only develop workplace skills, but also confidence in the applicability of their existing skills and attributes. Classroom work sitting alongside the internship gives students the opportunity to reflect upon their career development objectives.

PACE225: Workplace Skills and Corporate Social Responsbility

For students who would like to develop their skills in a safe, on campus project based environment, PACE225 could be for you. PACE225: Workplace Skills and Corporate Social Responsibility is a campus-based course being offered in Semester 1 which provides an opportunity for students to work with a corporation to advance its community engagement objectives. Students work together in small groups to develop workplace skills while also making a difference to a particular community.

"PACE225 helped me gain a deeper and better understanding of the importance of employability skills. I have developed many transferrable skills such as planning, effective communication, leadership, and self-management."
- Lupepe Saofai

"I enjoyed the course because of the fresh delivery. It was a really good experience to pitch to a real company, community, and my peers. It connected my studies with the real world." -Rose Fallow

Benefits of the PACE Internship Programme

Improves employability
Put degree work into practice
Builds networks
Develops industry and business knowledge
Develops personal and professional skills

Who can apply for PACE

Students from all disciplines can complete a PACE Internship, often as one of the elective courses for your degree or additional course. It is dependent on being able to fit it into your degree plan and your schedule. We recommend you speak with your College Student Advisor to make sure PACE fits in with your study goals.

While internships are not guaranteed, the PACE Office works closely with students to understand their goals and motivations to find the best internship opportunity.

Students who have completed an internship have come from diverse degree backgrounds, including (but not limited to):

Media and Communications
Computer Science
Education
Geography
Sociology
Art History

Marketing
Psychology
Languages
History
Fine Arts
Criminal Justice

Human Services
Philosophy
Classics
Education
Finance
Data science

Types of Internships Available

The following are examples of different types of internship roles students have had:

Environmental impact projects
Research and report writing
Marketing strategies
Data analysis
Policy analysis and writing
Social media platform creation
Project management
Creative Arts administration
Event management
Content creation eg websites, social media
Exhibition curation
Translation
Coding
Community engagement initiatives
Urban planning
GIS mapping
Creative writing

PACE Courses

PACE Internships are available semester 1, semester 2 and during summer school each year and are offered at different levels:

Course	Type	Points	Internship hours	Offered
PACE225	Project based	15 points	Based on campus. New in 2021	Semester 1 only
PACE295	Internship based	15 points	70 hours	Semester 2 and Summer School
PACE395	Internship based	30 points	140 hours	Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer School
PACE495	Internship based	30 points	140 hours	Semester 1 and Semester 2

Each internship-based course contains three components

Internship with a partner organisation or business
Seminars with a focus on personal development
Assignments

Personal Development covers a variety of topics such as communication skills, teamwork, reflection, uncertainty, goal setting, skills assessment and more. These skills are important in any workplace and offer a chance for students to put these into practice during their internship.

PACE225
Workplace Skills and Corporate Social Responsibility is a new campus-based course being offered in Semester 1, 2021 which provides an opportunity for students to work with a corporation to advance its community engagement objectives. Students work together in small groups to develop workplace skills while also making a difference to a particular community.

PACE295, PACE395 and PACE495
These courses provide opportunities for students to work as an intern on a bespoke project with a business or other organisation further enhancing their learning through classroom based workshops, related academic assignments and reflective exercises. This combination often leads to increased confidence and understanding of the students own abilities as well as a clearer sense of their career development learning objectives.

PACE Celebrations
Internships can be transformational for both students and partner organisations alike.

Three times a year we celebrate internship success, awarding prizes to those who have recently completed an internship. At the same celebration event, we welcome in the new students and organisations.

PACE courses have been running at UC for over 7 years now. There are many stories of PACE Alumni having gone on to meaningful and interesting careers.

Application and Enrolment Process

If you are interested in the PACE Internship Programme:

Speak with a Student Advisor to see if PACE can fit into your degree structure - remember, PACE is a UC course
Apply: we recommend applying at least one month prior to the start of each intake. Applications after this date are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The PACE Office will contact you to arrange an informal interview with you
If a suitable internship is found, you will meet with the partner organisation
Enrol in PACE course in myUC

The PACE Internship Programme has three intakes each year

Intake	Recommended Application Deadline
Semester 1	15 January
Semester 2	30 May
Summer	15 October

Please note:

PACE Internship courses remain subject at all times to the availability of suitable placements and is subject to the final decision of the Partnerships Manager.
Entry into the PACE Internship Programme requires an additional application

Internship Examples

Internship Project	Student background	Partner Organisation	Partner Organisation Description
To create a sustainability proposal for the Foodbank to implement	Politics	City Mission	Supports those in need, regardless of circumstance, from emergency shelter through to education and community support
To develop a pilot to sustainability gather and share qualitative data Archive and list the Christchurch Start newspaper collection	Sociology and anthropology History	Christchurch City Council	Local government body for the Christchurch City responsible for the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of its local community
General exposure to the industry as well as programming, product development and test automation	Computer Science	Tait Communications	Leading worldwide developer and manufacturer of radio communication equipment
To research the views of family members of the supported artist and prepare a report based on interviews with various artists, with key themes and recommendations.	Psychology	Ōtautahi Creative Spaces	Specialist creative wellbeing trust supporting people experiencing mental distress through visual art initiatives.
To assist in expanding on the opportunities of the Waiutuutu Community Garden	Environmental Science	UC Sustainability	Implementing and promoting sustainable practices within UC and the wider community
Create an education project about the Russell lupin invasion in braided rivers	Environmental Science	EnviroHub	Provides a collaborative platform for environmental innovation and leadership.
To assist in the development of a stakeholder led narrative about the Food Resilience Network	Geography	Food Resilience Network	Network of agencies and organisations (with a focus on growing food, distributing food, education and policy) who work together to make good food more accessible to the wider Canterbury Community
Support the marketing initiatives including social media, developing automated customer communications and event management	Marketing and Psychology	Christchurch Adventure Park	Adventure park based in the Christchurch Port Hills offering mountain biking, walking trails, zip-lining and a chairlift
To have an opportunity to watch music therapist and a speech language therapist at work, to learn what is involved in running a non-profit while providing support and assisting choir members.	Community Organising	Cantabrainers Choir	A choir for people with neurological conditions, which blends music therapy and speech language therapy to help the participants to improve their voices and communication skills
Researching specific topic of interest to the local Police district to provide a research report which provides insight into the topic	Political Science and International Relations	Police	National policing body working to make safe communities
Assistance with the Plunket Fun Run and promotions as well as the coordination of child led play group	Psychology	Plunket	Not-for-profit organisation providing universal access to services for all children and families, seeking to make a difference in a newborn’s first 1000 days
Project management of organisational narratives as well as conducting the interviews with local organisations	Environmental Science / Communications	Environment Canterbury (ECan)	The regional council for the Canterbury region with the purpose to facilitate sustainable development in the Canterbury region.