CQUniversity Unit Profile

BUSN19024 - Professional Practice Preparation

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All details in this unit profile for BUSN19024 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

Professional Practice Preparation equips students with the necessary skills and understanding of professional behaviour in the workplace and further develops a range of CQUniversity Graduate skills and attributes. Self reflection is emphasised as an important element of self management for career planning and future success in a professional career. This unit will provide students with an understanding of contemporary industry employer requirements and future employment trends within the industry. Students will learn skills required to competently market themselves to potential employers and to participate in the selection process for graduate positions in their chosen discipline. Material relating to employment application preparation and processes reflect contemporary Australian recruiting procedures.

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

Prerequisite of successful completion of 8 units (48 credit points) at an undergraduate level.

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 - 2017

Brisbane

Distance

Melbourne

Rockhampton

Sydney

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).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

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

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment

Weighting: 50%

2. Written Assessment

Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

CQUniversity Policies

All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

You may wish to view these policies:

Grades and Results Policy
Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
Review of Grade Procedure
Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure

This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

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 Student feedback

Feedback

Need for a single document outlining all assessment and marking criteria

Recommendation

Provide a single document that amalgamates both assessment requirements and marking criteria

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Understand their personal profile of interests/abilities and career variations provided by different choices of speciality, major study areas or post graduate study options.
Understand the processes used in graduate and professional and recruitment practices for both private and public employment, including on-line application and graduate programs.
Develop attributes and skills in workplace behaviour that ensures compliance with Codes of Conduct and Codes of ethics and recognise the relevant workplace legislation and organisations that provide advice and assistance to both employers and employees.
Prepare a quality resume to professional standard and write effective and professional covering letters to accompany their application for vacant positions or graduate programs
Explain the importance of selection criteria to the recruitment process and construct effective responses to graduate selection criteria by including CQU generic skills and graduate attributes
Describe professional recruitment processes; including the role of psychometric testing in the selection process.
Confidently participate in graduate recruitment interview; including telephone videoconferences, face-to-face panel interview and graduate selection centres.

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	6	7
1 - Written Assessment - 50%
2 - Written Assessment - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
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 - First Nations Knowledges
11 - 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	11
1 - Written Assessment - 50%
2 - Written Assessment - 50%

Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

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)

Study guide module 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Prepare a statement addressing the selection criteria for the position you identified in week 4

Vacation Week

Begin Date: 14 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6

Begin Date: 21 Aug 2017

Module/Topic

Written communication skills - writing employment application covering letters

Interview report template on moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Internal students - panel interviews as organised by your tutor

Distance students - interview by Course Coordinator (Telephone, Skype or by videoconference as advised)

All students - Prepare a reflective report on your interview using the template provided on moodle

Week 10

Begin Date: 18 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Transition from study to work - professional work environment, ethics, EBAs, EEO, Anti-discrimination and OHS.

Chapter

Study guide module 9

MBTI online site listed on Moodle

Online research

Events and Submissions/Topic

Undertake an online MBTI test

Prepare a critique of your MBTI personality type and working style

Week 11

Begin Date: 25 Sep 2017

Module/Topic

Graduate employment and beyond - graduate programs, postgraduate study, international experience

Chapter

Study guide module 10

Online research

Events and Submissions/Topic

Prepare an appraisal of 'The value of Post Graduate study and international experience to your discipline area'

Week 12

Begin Date: 02 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Career changes - understanding the world of work and networking techniques

Chapter

Study guide module 11

Online research

Events and Submissions/Topic

Prepare an analysis of 'Why ethics are important for professionals' and relate this to your discipline area

Review/Exam Week

Begin Date: 09 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Portfolio 2: ‘Preparing for professional employment’ Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (13 Oct 2017) 6:00 pm AEST

Exam Week

Begin Date: 16 Oct 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Portfolio 1: ‘Planning for my professional career’

Task Description

Portfolio one covers the course learning tasks for weeks one to six as listed in the course schedule. The compilation of your ‘Planning for my professional career’ portfolio is progressive in nature and enables you to engage in an ongoing basis with the set learning activities. Preparing your assessment items each week will ensure your portfolio is ready for submission by the due date. Portfolio one should include all of the following items: (1) summary of Self awareness exercises, (2) report on informational interview, (3) professional resume, (4) statement addressing selection criteria, and (5) a covering letter for your application. Your portfolio will be assessed against set marking criteria which expects significant effort in self-reflection and in preparation of employment application documents. Further details on marking criteria are listed on the Moodle site.

Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Wednesday (30 Aug 2017) 10:00 pm AEST

Submit portfolio electronically through the course moodle site

Return Date to Students

Week 9 Friday (15 Sept 2017)

Marked portfolios will be returned electronically through the course Moodle site. Only on-time submissions can expect to receive their marked portfolio back in week 9.

Weighting

50%

Assessment Criteria

Portfolio one will be marked against set criteria. You can use these criteria to guide you in assessing the quality of your work before submission. Meeting these marking criteria will ensure a good grade for your efforts. Criteria include: that all assessment pieces are contained in the portfolio, evidence of engagement with all learning activities is presented, significant effort in self reflection is demonstrated, employment application documents (resume, cover letter, selection criteria statement) are developed according to the course standards set out in the course study guide. Specific marking elements for each document are set out more fully in the assessment section of the moodle site.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit your portfolio documents through the link provided on the course Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Understand their personal profile of interests/abilities and career variations provided by different choices of speciality, major study areas or post graduate study options.
Understand the processes used in graduate and professional and recruitment practices for both private and public employment, including on-line application and graduate programs.
Develop attributes and skills in workplace behaviour that ensures compliance with Codes of Conduct and Codes of ethics and recognise the relevant workplace legislation and organisations that provide advice and assistance to both employers and employees.
Prepare a quality resume to professional standard and write effective and professional covering letters to accompany their application for vacant positions or graduate programs
Explain the importance of selection criteria to the recruitment process and construct effective responses to graduate selection criteria by including CQU generic skills and graduate attributes
Describe professional recruitment processes; including the role of psychometric testing in the selection process.
Confidently participate in graduate recruitment interview; including telephone videoconferences, face-to-face panel interview and graduate selection centres.

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Information Technology Competence
Ethical practice

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Portfolio 2: ‘Preparing for professional employment’

Task Description

The aim of these assessment tasks is to continue building your knowledge of professional recruitment procedures and further refine your skills for successful participation in graduate recruitment processes. Portfolio two requires you to gain at least 20/40 and to submit a revision of your application documents (resume, selection criteria statement and cover letter) according to assessment feedback from portfolio one in order to gain a passing grade for the course.

The compilation of your 'Preparing for professional employment' portfolio is progressive in nature and enables you to engage with the set weekly learning activities on an ongoing basis. Preparing your assessment items each week will ensure your portfolio is ready for submission by the due date. Portfolio two should include all of the following: (1) revised resume, cover letter and selection criteria statement, (2) critique of recruitment processes, (3) reflective report on your course interview experience, (4) critique of your MBTI type, (5) appraisal of the value of Post graduate study and international experience in your discipline area, and (6) Analysis of 'Why ethics are important for professionals in your discipline area'. Items 2-6 will require you to provide evidence of significant self-reflection and online research. Appropriate referencing of all sources must be provided.

Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Friday (13 Oct 2017) 6:00 pm AEST

Submit portfolio electronically through the course moodle site

Return Date to Students

Marked portfolios will be returned electronically via the Moodle site after the release of grades for the term.

Weighting

50%

Minimum mark or grade

Assessment Criteria

Portfolio two will be marked against set criteria to guide you in assessing the quality of your work before submission. Meeting these criteria will ensure a good grade for your efforts. Marking criteria include: that all assessment pieces are contained in the portfolio, application documents are revised according to previous feedback, evidence of engagement with all learning activities is presented, understanding of all types of interview structures and how to prepare for each is demonstrated, significant effort in self reflection is evidenced including suggestions for professional development, critical analysis skills are demonstrated in critiquing interview performances and recruitment processes. Further details concerning the marking criteria for each portfolio element is located is the assessment section of the course moodle site.

Note: Students must achieve a passing grade of at least 20/40 and include their revised application documents in this assessment item to pass the course.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit your portfolio through the link provided on the course Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Understand their personal profile of interests/abilities and career variations provided by different choices of speciality, major study areas or post graduate study options.
Understand the processes used in graduate and professional and recruitment practices for both private and public employment, including on-line application and graduate programs.
Develop attributes and skills in workplace behaviour that ensures compliance with Codes of Conduct and Codes of ethics and recognise the relevant workplace legislation and organisations that provide advice and assistance to both employers and employees.
Prepare a quality resume to professional standard and write effective and professional covering letters to accompany their application for vacant positions or graduate programs
Explain the importance of selection criteria to the recruitment process and construct effective responses to graduate selection criteria by including CQU generic skills and graduate attributes
Describe professional recruitment processes; including the role of psychometric testing in the selection process.
Confidently participate in graduate recruitment interview; including telephone videoconferences, face-to-face panel interview and graduate selection centres.

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
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.