CQUniversity Unit Profile
BUSN13004 Professional Practice and Experience
Professional Practice and Experience
All details in this unit profile for BUSN13004 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

Employers are seeking work-ready graduates who can apply their university-developed knowledge, skills and attributes in diverse work environments and new contexts. This unit will provide you with the opportunity to consolidate knowledge of your chosen profession/discipline and demonstrate graduate attributes through an authentic learning experience of your choice: work integrated learning, global experience or project. The work integrated learning creates an opportunity for you to gain practical work experience. You will apply discipline knowledge and critical thinking skills to propose creative, ethical and innovative solutions within the workplace. The global experience creates an opportunity for you to engage in a 2-6 week international program. You will apply cross-cultural knowledge and critical thinking skills to propose creative, ethical and innovative solutions in response to global challenges. The project option creates an opportunity for you to complete a scaffolded investigation (supervised project) at an advanced level. You will apply discipline knowledge and critical thinking skills to propose creative, ethical and innovative solutions to a workplace or community issue related to your discipline area. We encourage you to enrol early to receive further information about each experience and begin the selection process. The work integrated learning and global experience options are subject to availability and you are required to enrol three months prior to the start of Term to participate in these options.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-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 2 - 2022

Mixed Mode

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: Pass/Fail
2. Reflective Practice Assignment
Weighting: Pass/Fail
3. Portfolio
Weighting: Pass/Fail

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 co-ordinator and student feedback

Feedback

This unit could use further development to scaffold the research project for students, who often enter the unit with relatively little formal research training before launching into independent project work.

Recommendation

Continue to add scaffolding and content to the research project option to shape student progress.

Feedback from Discipline leaders, HOC

Feedback

The unit would benefit from a review of ULOs, to ensure a streamlined list of ULOs that potentially are applicable to all three streams, should SBL decide to persist with all three streams going forward.

Recommendation

Hold a meeting within SBL to review the ULOs, perhaps with a learning design team member to ensure the outcomes are aligned with all three streams, and to review the three-in-one nature of the unit.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Justify and communicate a project plan for an work integrated learning, global experience or project to investigate and analyse a specific issue
  2. Critically analyse the relevance of the knowledge, skills and attributes developed through university studies to workplace or community contexts and future careers
  3. Demonstrate critical thinking and judgement when investigating a workplace or community issue and developing creative solutions appropriate to the specific context
  4. Critically reflect on work integrated learning, global experience or project experience to identify further areas of learning and professional development
  5. Synthesise university and practical discipline experience to demonstrate an understanding of self, careers, and the needs of workplaces or communities now and into the future.

NA.

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 - 0%
2 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 0%
3 - Portfolio - 0%

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
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

There are no required textbooks for this unit. A repertoire of supporting material has been provided on the unit's Moodle page. 

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: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Imran Ali Unit Coordinator
i.ali@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 11 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Orientation to unit and assessments. You need to choose your 'stream' (project, work integrated learning, or global experience) and will be guided on the Moodle site to the appropriate sequence of study for your chosen path.

Chapter

Read the unit profile and assessment task requirements.

Consult learning resources under Week 1 on the unit Moodle site.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 18 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

You will need to consider your project focus for the term, to begin collecting materials for your project and orient themselves to the assessment requirements.

Chapter

Students should consult learning resources under Week 2 on the unit's Moodle site.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 25 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

What are the elements of a critical literature review? Regardless of the stream you have chosen, you will need to learn how to support your assessments with appropriate academic writing that display research and critical reading.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 3 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment Due: Week 3 Monday (25 July 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Written Assessment Due: Week 3 Monday (25 July 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 4 Begin Date: 01 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Gathering artifacts and critical reflection for your chosen project.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 4 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 08 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Reflective practice for career opportunities – applying principles to your research project, work integrated learning, or global experience to your future career.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 5 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 15 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 22 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Overview of research methods.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 6 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Reflective Practice Assignment Due: Week 6 Monday (22 Aug 2022)


Reflective Practical Assignment Due: Week 6 Monday (22 Aug 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 29 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Data collection and analysis.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 7 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 05 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Summarising and presenting findings.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 8 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 12 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Reflecting on key findings.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 9 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 19 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

How to draw a logical conclusion.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 10 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 26 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

How to develop clear recommendations that can be operationalised.

Chapter

Consult learning resources under Week 12 on the unit's Moodle site

Events and Submissions/Topic

Portfolio Due: Week 12 Monday (3 Oct 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Portfolio Due: Week 12 Monday (3 Oct 2022) 12:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 17 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment

Task Description

This unit is a pass-fail unit, however, this assignment is weighted at 15% of the unit total.
This unit is a pass-fail unit, however, this assignment is weighted at 15% of the unit total, to give you a sense of how much time should be allocated to this component of the assessment. Given your choice between options of a research project, work-integrated learning or global experience, the Assessment will adopt three different pathways:


Assessment Due Date

Week 3 Monday (25 July 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

A late penalty @ 5% per day will be applied


Return Date to Students

Week 5 Monday (8 Aug 2022)

Effort will be made to return the assignment in a timely manner (within two weeks in this case).


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass grade - this assessment is based on pass/fail grade

Assessment Criteria

Research project

If you choose to write a research report, the first assessment requires you to submit a project plan of about 500 words, excluding title page, table of content and references. Use report language conventions to write a project plan, including:

  • Appropriate project topic or title related to your discipline (maximum 16 words).
  • Introduction including background and problem statement. Briefly provide a background to the topic/selected organisation. What would you like to research and why? You are advised to integrate the related literature with the problem statement (about 200 words).
  • The aims and key research question(s) (about 50-60 words).
  • Literature review - briefly mention the keywords of literature/theories that you will be using, and indicate the scholarly database(s) (about 100 words).
  • Research methodology: In this research, you are required to use secondary data ONLY. As such, please clearly explain research methodology and identify the data source(s) you will be using, and data analysis tools and techniques (about 150 words).
  • Outline the project timeline/Gantt chart.

Work-integrated learning

If you choose the option of work-integrated learning, the first assessment will include a plan related to workplace etiquette and skills and knowledge. Use report language conventions to write a workplace plan (up to 500 words), including:

  • What is your understanding of acceptable standards of communication, dress code and ethical behaviours at the workplace?
  • What type of activities and tasks you will be doing at the work placement?
  • Did you read the literature related to these activities/tasks? Please provide brief description of the related literature (journal article(s), book chapter, research report) that you have already read in preparation toward your work placement. Note that it is necessary to gain a basic understanding of the literature related to your workplace activities and tasks.
  • Do you have prior experience that you will be able to demonstrate while doing activities at the workplace?

Global experience

You are required to provide a 500-word plan related to your global experience; that is, a virtual study tour of some organisations in India. The plan should include:

  • A brief introduction of the organisations/places you will be visiting.
  • Practices/activities/functional areas of these organisations that link to your discipline/subject area.
  • The contemporary problems/challenges that you have investigated in these organisations.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit assessment in Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Justify and communicate a project plan for an work integrated learning, global experience or project to investigate and analyse a specific issue
  • Critically analyse the relevance of the knowledge, skills and attributes developed through university studies to workplace or community contexts and future careers

2 Reflective Practice Assignment

Assessment Title
Reflective Practical Assignment

Task Description

This unit is a pass-fail unit, however, this assignment is weighted at 35% of the unit total.

You are required to deliver about a 10-minute oral presentation over Zoom, reflecting on the activities, knowledge, and skills that you have accomplished since the commencement of the research project, work-integrated learning or global experience. Also, you are required to identify further learning opportunities and discuss your reflective practice and the role it plays in becoming a life-long learner.

This assessment item will be delivered at a time arranged with your unit coordinator. You are required to submit a PowerPoint presentation via the Moodle submission portal by the submission date, but your presentation may take place at another time.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Monday (22 Aug 2022) 11:45 pm AEST

A late penalty @ 5% per day applied


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Monday (5 Sept 2022)

This assignment is oral, so return date on assignment will be partly dependent on when presentation takes place


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass grade - this assessment is based on pass/fail grade

Assessment Criteria

The pass or fail grade will be granted given the following criteria:

  • Clarity: have you used visual and oral communication skills to clearly explain your insights.
  • Critical thinking: have you demonstrated a linkage between your project, your discipline, and your future career?
  • Research: have you presented evidence that you have done background research to inform the content of their reflective practice?
  • Time management: have you used an appropriate number of slides and time to communicate the message.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit powerpoint slides in the Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critically analyse the relevance of the knowledge, skills and attributes developed through university studies to workplace or community contexts and future careers
  • Critically reflect on work integrated learning, global experience or project experience to identify further areas of learning and professional development
  • Synthesise university and practical discipline experience to demonstrate an understanding of self, careers, and the needs of workplaces or communities now and into the future.

3 Portfolio

Assessment Title
Portfolio

Task Description

This unit is a pass-fail unit, however, this assignment is weighted at 50% of the unit total.

This assessment item (portfolio) will be completed in three different formats given your choice between research project, work-integrated learning and global experience.

Research project

If you have selected the option of a research project for Assessments 1 & 2, you are required to write 2,000 words (+/- 10%) project report, individually. Researching business problems and developing solutions is considered an important skill of a successful business manager or leader of a company. This project report provides you with the opportunity to develop this great skill by applying your accumulated knowledge to a real-world business problem and proposing a reliable solution(s). More specifically, drawing upon publicly available secondary data and relevant literature, you will explore a real-world problem/issue related to your profession/area of specialisation and develop credible recommendation(s) to address the problem.

The assessment will follow the typical structure of a research report and will need to include the following:

  • Project title
  • Introduction including background information, current challenges that need to be addressed, gap/need for the new research project, aims and research question(s).
  • Theoretical framework demonstrating your understanding of the recent literature associated with your research project.
  • Research methodology
  • Reflection on key findings from secondary data analysis.
  • Conclusion.
  • References - at least 12 from scholarly sources following APA style.
  • Appendices (if any)

Work-integrated learning

If you have selected the work-integrated learning option, you are required to complete a set of activities and tasks embedded in Sonia system. The information on how to use the Sonia system will be provided on the unit’s Moodle site.

Global Experience

Drawing on your experiences in the virtual study tour, you are required to develop a portfolio, including:

  • Introduction of the organisations/places visited and their business operations/model.
  • Practices/activities/functional areas of these organisations that link to your discipline/subject area.
  • The contemporary real-world problems/challenges related to your discipline? Note that you need to provide detailed information/evidence on the real-world challenges - use current literature, database, and research report to support your argument.
  • Reflection on how these organisations tackle contemporary challenges.
  • Building upon the existing literature, recognise areas of further improvement and devise recommendations to further enhance their performance.

Note: You are encouraged to use, where possible, visuals of organisation/activities.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (3 Oct 2022) 12:45 pm AEST

A late penalty @ 5% per day applies


Return Date to Students

The final result will be only released on the certification of the grades.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

Research Project

The pass or fail grade will take into account the following criteria:

  • Introduction provides clear background information, current challenges that need to be addressed, gap/need for the new research project, and aims and research question(s).
  • Literature review offers a clear theoretical framework/review of the existing literature related to your research project.
  • Research methodology clearly outlines research method, and data collection and data analysis procedures.
  • Findings provide a reflection on key findings from the data analysis
  • Conclusion provides major inferences and demonstrates that the research project has achieved the aims or answered the key research questions. Provide recommendations (practical or theoretical) and any limitations.
  • Minimum 12 scholarly sources (journal article, book, published research report) following APA referencing style.

Work-integrated learning

You'll be required to complete a set of activities and tasks embedded in the Sonia system. The pass or fail grade will be decided based on the information in the Sonia system.

Global experience

The pass or fail grade will take into account the following criteria:

  • Introduction providing information about the organisations/places visited and their business operations/model.
  • Clear identification of practices/activities/functional areas of these organisations that link to your discipline/subject area.
  • Provision of the contemporary real-world problems/challenges related to your discipline? Note that you need to provide detailed information/evidence on the real-world challenges - use current literature, database, and research report to support your argument.
  • Reflection on how these organisations tackle contemporary challenges.
  • Clear reflection on areas of further improvement and provision recommendations to further enhance their performance. The discussion should be supported by the related literature.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and judgement when investigating a workplace or community issue and developing creative solutions appropriate to the specific context
  • Critically reflect on work integrated learning, global experience or project experience to identify further areas of learning and professional development
  • Synthesise university and practical discipline experience to demonstrate an understanding of self, careers, and the needs of workplaces or communities now and into the future.

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?