Business information systems students navigate real-world projects with Prezzee
The Business School's Master of Commerce program emphasises real-world application through its innovative Business Information Systems (BIS) capstone unit. This course allows students to collaborate with industry partners like Prezzee, applying their academic skills and knowledge to work on real-world projects and solve genuine business challenges. The collaborative partnership with Prezzee was developed by Senior Lecturer Corina Raduescu in 2022.
Over the years, guided by experienced unit coordinators and instructors, students draw upon their learnings from various units such as Digital Business Models and Managing Data at Scale. They engage with industry partners on real business cases, developing solutions over 13 weeks, with mid-term deliverables and a final report and presentation.
Business Information Systems capstone unit students with industry mentors
Key moments of this semester included the collaborative creation of digital products, mentorship by industry practitioners, and positive industry reception of student solutions. Notably, one group was invited for a follow-up presentation at Prezzee's office, where their idea was evaluated.
"The calibre of research and employment of both critical and design thinking was at a very high standard".
"The capstone unit helps students build a digital portfolio that reflects the connections among the knowledge acquired throughout the MCom program in a cohesive manner. This process enables students to understand how their integrated knowledge can be effectively applied to problem-solving and job-readiness, rather than viewing concepts and skills in isolation," said Na Liu, the BIS Postgraduate Program Coordinator.
Melanie Zhou, a Master of Commerce student specialising in BIS, found the collaborative aspect of the program particularly rewarding. "Working closely with my team to tackle real-world challenges reinforced the practical relevance of our academic learning," she shared.
"This course stands out because your proposal is reviewed by executives, they help to evaluate the feasibility of our ideas based on real-world conditions," said Yongle Cheng.
Ziqian Bai appreciated the practical experience gained from engaging with real clients: "The best part of this project is the opportunity to engage with a real client, it allows us to apply the theoretical knowledge gained from lectures to real-world business."