CQUniversity Unit Profile
BIOL12050 Professional Placement or Project
Professional Placement or Project
All details in this unit profile for BIOL12050 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In Professional or Project you will either complete a placement in a workplace relevant to your degree and major or if your GPA is 5.0 or greater you may have the option of undertaking a short research project. This unit will provide you with an opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge and practical skills attained in your degree course to the professional work environment. In Professional Placement, you will complete 15 days relevant industrial experience with an emphasis on the interaction of your university learning with the practical environment. If you have a GPA of 5.0 or better you may choose to undertake an independent research project approved by the coordinator. You are required to find your own placement or project and details of the placement or project must be provided to the coordinator prior to commencing the placement or project.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

72 credit points.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 3 - 2020

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 100%

Assessment Grading

This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit evaluation through Moodle and student emails and telephone conversations.

Feedback

Students had difficulty with Sonia, the online placement tracking system.

Recommendation

This online placement tracking system appears to be working properly at the moment, but performance of the system will be monitored in conjunction with the School Placement Office.

Feedback from Placement Reports.

Feedback

Students commented how invaluable the work experience was in providing skills and knowledge they weren't able to acquire through the units in their degree program.

Recommendation

Continue to provide work placement experiences for students.

Feedback from Placement Report.

Feedback

One student mentioned it was particularly difficult for overseas students to find a placement.

Recommendation

Work with the International student assistance team to see what extra help may be able to be provided for overseas students.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Apply knowledge and skills in a professional role or to a practical research project relevant to your Degree Course.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
  3. Demonstrate communication and problem solving skills by completing a report of a professional standard detailing the work or project undertaken.
  4. Reflect on the relevance of the project or placement to your degree course and document how your skills and knowledge have been extended by the project or placement.
  5. Maintain a work or research diary suitably recording the tasks undertaken.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Written Assessment - 100%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 100%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Amie Anastasi Unit Coordinator
a.anastasi@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 09 Nov 2020

Module/Topic

Placement or Project Preparation

Chapter

CV preparation and generic workplace skills or research proposal preparation

Events and Submissions/Topic

Submit CV or research proposal

Email the unit coordinator with the following: Details of placement, including contact information OR Project proposal and supervisor's contact information.

Week 2 Begin Date: 16 Nov 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 23 Nov 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

If you have not organised a placement or project yet, contact the unit coordinator. 

Week 4 Begin Date: 30 Nov 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 07 Dec 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 14 Dec 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Dec 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 28 Dec 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 04 Jan 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 11 Jan 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 18 Jan 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 25 Jan 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 01 Feb 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Placement Completion Begin Date: 08 Feb 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

You must submit your portfolio within four (4) weeks of completing the placement or project. 

Your placement or project must be completed, and your portfolio submitted, by 8th October 2021 at the very latest.

Exam Week Begin Date: 15 Feb 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Due to COVID-19 impacts at the time of preparing this unit profile, the placement or research project attached to this unit for Term 3 2020 may be impacted and need to be completed at a later date. Further details will be made available on the unit Moodle site in due course.

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Portfolio

Task Description

Task Description

A portfolio must be submitted that includes:

1. Current CV for Placement or a Research Proposal for Research Project

2. Daily Diary

3. Written Report

4. Supervisor's Report

1. Current CV for Placement or Research Proposal for Research Project

Depending on whether you are undertaking a placement or a research project you need to do one of the following:

1a. Placement

Upload a current CV into Moodle or email it to the unit coordinator if commencing your placement before the Moodle site is available. This should be the CV you may submit to the workplace when organising your placement.

1b. Research Proposal

In consultation with your supervisor, prepare a research proposal that should include, project title, brief background to the research question, aims of the project, proposed methods, estimate of required funds and funding source. The proposal should be no more than 1000 words. Upload your proposal to Moodle or email to the unit coordinator if commencing the project before the Moodle site is available.

2. Placement or Research Project Daily Diary

You must keep a diary detailing daily activities and responsibilities.

You should also (i) describe the knowledge gained and the skills learned during the industry placement or research project; (ii) reflect on how the knowledge and skills relate to your program of study and may be useful in your future career and (iii) identify knowledge and skills that would have been useful to have before going on your industry placement or research project.

3. Placement or Research Project Report (report formats different to those detailed here may be acceptable - speak to your Unit Coordinator if you would like to alter the format of the written report).

You must write a report of approximately 2500 words in one of the following formats, depending on whether you have completed a placement or a research project:

3a. Industry Placement Report

If you have undertaken a placement, you must write a report detailing the nature of the work and providing a detailed description of the type of activities undertaken.

3b. Research Project Report

If you have undertaken a research project, you must write a report about the research in standard scientific report format.

4. Supervisor’s Report

The workplace or research supervisor is required to complete a short feedback form that includes an assessment of your progress and work ethic during the placement or research project. This report must be included in the portfolio. If the supervisor requires confidentiality, the report may be forwarded directly to the Unit Coordinator.


Assessment Due Date

Four weeks from completion of Placement or Project


Return Date to Students

Two weeks after submission of assessment.


Weighting
100%

Assessment Criteria

Pass non Graded (PN): Portfolio submitted on time and including all four elements (CV or research proposal, diary, placement or project report and supervisor's report) of an acceptable standard.

Fail (F) Elements missing from the portfolio or portfolio not submitted on time or not of an acceptable standard.

General Criteria Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Title and task Descriptive title and task given in full. Title absent or inappropriate.
Grammar Appropriately structured sentences. Well organised paragraphs. Poorly structured sentences. Paragraphs poorly organised.
Spelling No errors or minor errors only. Many errors.
Presentation Appropriate for style of writing presented. Poorly presented.
Flow of text Fluent expression, well organised with no problems or only minor problems. Text is poorly organised and/or disjointed.

 

Specific Placement Criteria Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Introduction Clearly states nature of placement and work undertaken. Nature of placement and work undertaken is unclear.
Content Adequate detail of type of activities undertaken and knowledge and skills gained. Inadequate detail of activities.
Conclusion Reiterates major points and finalises the topic. Absent or very poor attempt.

 

Specific Research Project Criteria Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Introduction Clearly introduces the research topic and identifies the aim of the project. Research topic unclear and aim not clearly identified.
Methods Methods are appropriate for the aim and clearly described. Methods inappropriate and/or poorly described.
Results Results are presented clearly and accurately. Results unclear and/or inaccurate.
Discussion Appropriate discussion of results highlighting significant findings and their relation to the literature. Discussion inappropriate, significant findings not highlighted or related to the literature.
Conclusion Reiterates major points and finalises the topic. Absent or very poor attempt.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
The CV or research proposal to be uploaded in appropriate section of Moodle or emailed to the Unit Coordinator. The rest of the portfolio is to be uploaded as separate files through Moodle.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply knowledge and skills in a professional role or to a practical research project relevant to your Degree Course.
  • Demonstrate the ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
  • Demonstrate communication and problem solving skills by completing a report of a professional standard detailing the work or project undertaken.
  • Reflect on the relevance of the project or placement to your degree course and document how your skills and knowledge have been extended by the project or placement.
  • Maintain a work or research diary suitably recording the tasks undertaken.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?