The move will allow OES to “accelerate” Gradability’s work integrated learning operations in the Australian market via its “digital expertise, scale, and capacity to invest in growth”, the partners noted.

Together, they will seek to support three stakeholders. Students will be offered support services to optimise their career outcomes, universities will be able to provide “tangible and high impact” work experience opportunities, while government will benefit from developing the workforce of the future.

“The partnership with Gradability builds on our vision to passionately enhance lives through online education, providing enhanced services that set students up for future success,” Denice Pitt, CEO of OES, said.

The aims of the partnership will also be enabled by the company’s connection to online employment marketplace SEEK. In 2017, SEEK raised its stake in OES to $118.5m – a joint venture it started with Swinburne in July 2011. SEEK also made a £50m investment in online learning platform FutureLearn in 2019.

OES’s connection with SEEK and its “extensive” employment-market insights alongside Gradabilty’s network of thousands of host organisations will further support students, universities and government, OES added.

“Together we have both the passion and nous to deliver unrivalled work integrated learning solutions”

“Our shared focus on the important role that employability has to play in higher education means that together we have both the passion and nous to deliver unrivalled work integrated learning solutions for universities and the students that they serve,” Pitt added.

The announcement is an “important milestone” for Gradability and the students and host organisations it serves, CEO of Gradability, David Phua noted.

“By joining the OES family, we can now expand our proven offering to help more students find meaningful employment opportunities.”

Since 2006, Gradability has placed over 30,000 international students in Australia into professional accounting or IT internship roles in the country via its Professional Year Program. It will continue to offer the service as international students are welcomed back onshore.