UniSA international students win prized internships with Adelaide Football Club
By Malvika Hemanth
COMMUNITY Vietnamese Software Engineering (Honours) student Edward Nguyen, is one of two international students who have been accepted into the Adelaide Football Club’s coveted internship programs. Two of UniSA’s international students have secured major internships with iconic South Australian sporting organisation, the Adelaide Football Club (AFC).
It is the first time the AFC has recruited international students into their student placement opportunities.
Software Engineering (Honours) student Anh Huy (Edward) Nguyen and Information Technology (Software Development) student Khanh Nhu (Kathy) Vu, both from Vietnam, were each shortlisted for the prized placements, which they subsequently won.
Edward, 24, who is in his final year of his degree, says he is overjoyed to have the opportunity to work for the AFC.
“I’m really looking forward to being able to use the skills I’ve learnt at UniSA in a real-world setting,” he says.
It was Edward’s dream to work for the Adelaide Football Club, having been introduced to Australian Rules Football (footy) when he came to Adelaide in 2021.
“My host family showed me all about footy, how the game works, how the scores work. I had never seen anything like it before,” he says.
“Even though I’m a big English Premier League fan, they (host family) helped me become an Adelaide Crows fan and now I really like the sport.”
Reflecting on the internship process, Edward says his studies at UniSA have contributed immensely to building his resume.
“The degree I’m studying has helped me understand the front and back end of web development and how a website fully functions because it’s not just about the user,” he says.
“I’ve already done 10 projects and being part of projects has helped me develop my communication and teamwork skills.”
He says completing IT Project 1, a final year subject where students apply professional software engineering skills to produce an agreed upon software artefact for a client, was invaluable.
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as Meta's large language model, Llama 3, Edward collaborated with three other students to assist a UniSA researcher in finding errors in their ethics report.
Edward and Kathy’s three-month internships will see them assisting the AFC’s data migration, folder restructuring and IT support systems through helping staff and clientele adapt to new technologies as Level 1 IT support personnel.
The AFC, which is home to the popular South Australian football team, the Adelaide Crows, has partnered with UniSA since 2017, helping champion research collaboration, student placements, internships and engagement opportunities for UniSA staff and students.
Valuing the diversity and experience international students bring to the AFC, Edward and Kathy were selected because of their genuine interest in the AFC, their strong academic performance, along with the care they demonstrated during their application and interview stages.
AFC Chief Executive Officer Tim Silvers says the club is always looking to provide students with meaningful workplace experience opportunities.
“Like any industry, football is ever-changing and our club is always looking to engage with people who can bring new and diverse perspectives and experiences,” Silvers says.
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