The Y3A Mezze Cafe  buzzed with music, barbecue aromas, media students, staff and PACE Partners during the recent MAS350 PACE Partners Lunch.

More than 20 organisations who supervise media interns came to see the MMCCS facilities and learn more about the relationships between Macquarie, corporations and community groups through the PACE program.

They were treated to three live music performances, a tour of the Y3A production facilities, including the new Futures Lab, and a delicious Turkish lunch.

Dr Phyllis Sakinofsky, convener of the Media Internship subject, said that media students had to arrange their own placements. With over 100 students to place it is difficult for PACE and Dr Sakinofsky to establish ongoing relationships with this ever-expanding pool of organisations.

“Many of our partners are in the communication sector and understand the value of face-to-face contact and networking. While some of the outcomes of inviting them in may be intangible, the importance of establishing sustainable relationships cannot be under-estimated.”

A growing number of partners are from the not-for-profit sector where they have limited resources and skills. They were able to explore further avenues for working with PACE students across the university, as well as with academics in specific areas of research.

“We had a few partners and students speak about how working with a not-for-profit organisation taught them so much and impacted their values, something they had not anticipated at the outset of their internship. Contributing to small organisations enabled them to undertake projects that made a significant difference to others, and themselves.”

The event was funded by a PACE grant and it is hoped that this model will be followed by other departments in the future.

Learn more about the PACE experiences of our Faculty of Arts students.