Professional and Community Engagement
Mātai Hoin i te Hapori me te Ringa Ngaio
Qualifications
Overview
Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) studies is an ideal complement to your degree. Training in this area will help you to develop key transferrable skills such as communication, problem-solving, organisational, and interpersonal skills. These will be honed through relevant work experience, projects, and internships.
Working jointly on projects with businesses and community organisations, PACE students learn to provide productive outcomes, develop strategies, and enhance their communication skills, and while increasing their employability in the process.
- UC has led the way in Australasia with its popular PACE Internships programme – a unique offering by Te Kaupeka Toi Tangata | Faculty of Arts open to any student across UC. PACE students have completed over 300 internship projects in recent years, ranging from media strategy development, event organisation, marketing, and fundraising, to health advocacy, environmental advice, and policy analysis.
- In Ōtautahi Christchurch central business district, UC students are able to get involved in social media strategies, public art events, urban transformation projects, GIS mapping, event management and more. Nowhere else in Aotearoa New Zealand are students getting so much exposure to social innovation and entrepreneurship, the chance to reshape a city, and create meaningful and personalised environments that make a difference to the communities in which they live.
Prior study in almost any discipline and a positive approach to working in a new environment are both helpful when applying to do a PACE internship.
Having a good command of written English is also useful. Some work experience, either past or current, is also an advantage.
Professional and Community Engagement minor
For the minor in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability, Bachelor of Sport Coaching, or Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership, complete the following courses:
200-level
300-level
- Plus one other 15-point course at any level that is not part of your major studies nor a compulsory course in your chosen degree.
PACE courses require a special application – see the PACE Internship Programme Application process and dates.
You will get to participate in internship projects organised through UC with a business or community organisation. These courses enable you to put the skills developed during your studies to practice, while developing valuable skills and confidence in the workplace. This is supported by regular workshops and reflection to support your personal and professional development.
The courses are run during Semester 1 and 2, as well as during the summer months (November–February).
By being involved in the PACE programme, you will learn to identify the strengths you bring to the workplace and understand how your degree has prepared you to work with local and international communities.
PACE students have an edge over other graduates, as they will have had the chance to develop their communication, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills in real-world scenarios.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.
Contact us
Te Kaupeka Toi Tangata | Faculty of Arts
Phone +64 3 369 1761
Email paceinternships@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
Room 501, Elsie Locke building – see campus maps
Postal address
Te Kaupeka Toi Tangata | Faculty of Arts
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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