A TIE-UP between National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) will give graduates a leg up in their job hunt and career.

Yesterday, NUS Provost Tan Eng Chye signed a memorandum of understanding with SBF deputy executive director Lim Chai Boon allowing students to network, do internships and explore business opportunities among the 15,000 firms the federation represents.

This is the first time the federation has formed a formal partnership with a university here. Professor Tan said: 'The tie-up with SBF will allow our NUS undergraduates and graduates to immerse in programmes or projects that will enable them to become business savvy in the global environment.'

He hopes this will help secure jobs for graduating students but with the recession deepening, internships may be a more viable way to gain employment.

SBF's Mr Lim said students should seize internship opportunities as many businesses try to identify talented students and hire them as permanent staff.

Graduating students are hopeful the scheme will bring greater work opporrtunities. Economics student Hesani Jayawickrarma, 21, said: 'The university is doing quite a lot to help graduating students get jobs. I will be sending out as many resumes as possible and will be open to all types of jobs, even internships.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.