What started as a 12-week internship with La Trobe’s AI Accelerator team, has turned into an extended internship opportunity for Nora Zhu.
Nora recently completed a Master of Information Technology and joined the AI Accelerator team during Semester 2 last year. Nora said she was excited to be able to continue contributing to AI-driven initiatives across the University.
The opportunity for an internship with the AI Accelerator team stemmed from Nora’s keen interest in AI-related subjects and projects.
“I was particularly interested in how AI can be applied in real-world environments, especially in education and digital transformation.
“Through conversations with academic staff and industry connections at the University, I was introduced to the AI Accelerator team.”
During the internship, Nora has worked on a range of AI-powered solutions to support student services and digital innovation projects across La Trobe, including:
- exploring and building AI agents and chatbot solutions
- working on Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) concepts which allow AI to look up information first before generating a response
- contributing to solution design and technical documentation
- testing and evaluating AI tools
- collaborating with cross-functional teams
She said the experience was a lot different from the usual university assignments, which encouraged a change in mindset.
“What made this experience different was the scale and complexity. Instead of working on isolated academic tasks, I had to consider security, governance, stakeholder expectations, system integration and long-term sustainability.
“One of the biggest shifts for me was moving from a ‘student mindset’ of focusing on completing tasks, to thinking about how to build solutions that genuinely improve the University’s digital experience.
“That meant learning how to communicate with different teams, understand priorities and design AI systems that are not just technically functional, but practical and impactful.”
Nora said one of the biggest highlights of her internship was seeing how AI moves from theory into real-world practice.
“At university, we learn models, algorithms and systems. In the AI Accelerator team, I experienced how those concepts are translated into solutions that impact real users.”
For Nora another key takeaway was learning how to work in a professional team environment.
“I learned about communicating ideas clearly, aligning with stakeholders and working collaboratively. I have also gained confidence in exploring emerging technologies independently and turning ideas into working prototypes.”
Nora said she looks forward to applying the knowledge she has gained from her internship in her future career.
At university, we learn models, algorithms and systems. In the AI Accelerator team, I experienced how those concepts are translated into solutions that impact real users
“This opportunity will allow me to apply the knowledge I learned in my course to real-world projects. Through hands-on experience, I can deepen my understanding of technologies such as AI, automation, and cloud platforms.
“It will also help me develop practical skills in problem-solving, system design and collaboration within a professional environment. These experiences will better prepare me for my future career as an AI engineer.”
Nora encouraged other students to consider internships wherever possible.
“I would strongly encourage other students to take on an AI internship – or any internship opportunity. It is a great way to apply what you learn in class to real-world situations.
“Through an internship, you can gain practical experience, understand how teams work in professional environments and learn skills that are difficult to develop through coursework alone.
“Even if it feels challenging at first, the experience will help you grow both technically and professionally and it can give you a clearer direction for your future career.”
About the AI Accelerator program
The AI Accelerator Program is part of La Trobe University’s AI first strategy. It’s designed to help the University quickly and responsibly embed artificial intelligence across teaching, research, student services and operations.
The program focuses on building staff capability and bringing cross functional teams together to develop practical, AI driven solutions to support La Trobe’s strategic priorities. It aims to help La Trobe people and systems become AI ready, while delivering improvements to student and staff experiences through AI powered initiatives.
Want to know more about how you can connect with industry and get real-world experience while studying at La Trobe? Visit the Work Integrated Learning and Placements page.