BUSS 5382: Professional Development for Graduates

Professional Development for Graduates (BUSS 5382) is an exciting new course, offered for the first time at UniSA in SP5, 2012. BUSS 5382 is a university-wide elective, open to students from all disciplines who wish to gain valuable experience in their chosen field, with extensive support offered by the Course Coordinator and Workplace Supervisor.

The aim of this course is to develop students' professional networks, communication, career skills and strategies through a supported placement in a business or community setting. Students will have the opportunity to plan, implement, reflect and report on the placement experience, with a particular focus on the development of intercultural workplace communication skills.

Businesses where work placements are being offered in SP5, 2012:

Cavill Power Products Pty Ltd
2XE
AIM Overseas
AYAD
The Adelaide Crows
DSCI
Legal Circles
Morton Phillips
Red Button
Corporate Profile
Toro Energy
Austalk Promotions
The Smith Family
South Australian Jockey Club
Port Adelaide Artists Forum
Oz Minerals
Oak Tree Foundation

Examples of established placement projects offered in SP5 2012 include:

Department of Communities and Social Inclusion:

• Developing a discussion paper for improving accessibility of information
• Developing promotional online resources regarding copyright and intellectual property issues
• Developing a discussion paper examining information booths
• Developing a discussion paper identifying opportunities relating to easy to read translations

These projects would suit students who are enrolled/experienced in the disciplines of Social Sciences, Law or Information Technology.

Formulation:

• Developing a discussion paper examining best practice for working to improve other organisations forms.

This project would suit students who are enrolled/experienced in the disciplines of Management/ Business Administration.

Austraining International:

• Analysing reports on a pilot volunteer program
• Evaluating long-term outcomes of volunteer engagement with host organisations
• Developing a research proposal regarding all aspects of the volunteering journey

These projects would suit students who are enrolled/experienced in the disciplines of Education/ Management/ Social Sciences/ International Studies.

Banksia Park International High School:

• Analyse internationalisation of education at BPIHS and develop promotional material
• Developing a model of best practice regarding supporting international students

These projects would suit students who are enrolled/experienced in the disciplines of Education/ Social Sciences/ International Studies.

SOL Results:

• Developing a marketing plan for a series of seminars
• Developing a speaking program in Malaysia

The first project would suit a student who is enrolled/experienced in the Marketing. The second project would suit students from a range of disciplines including Event Management/ Communications/ Management/ Marketing or those with connections and/or interested in working with Malaysian companies.

Acceptance into the course is based on two prerequisites:

* Successful completion of 9 units of postgraduate study at UniSA (not including credit)
OR
* Completion of an undergraduate degree at any Australian university
AND
* A competitive application to be submitted to the Course Coordinator amanda.daly@unisa.edu.au due 5pm Monday 18 June 2012.

The application must provide full details of the work placement that the student plans to undertake. Students will need to contact Amanda Daly  well in advance of the application due date to discuss the preferred placement, negotiate the specific project to be undertaken during the placement, and make initial contact with the workplace supervisor. Note: Some organisations may have an established project for the work placement, while others may be willing to negotiate the details of the placement with the student.

The proposed placement should not comprise clinical practice (e.g. it cannot be a clinical placement as required in some disciplines such as Health Science). Students may also source their own work placement if they prefer (see Note 1 below).
 

How to Apply

a. Student to provide details of how he/she will benefit from the course BUSS 5382.

b. Student to provide details of the proposed work placement, including when, where, supervisor contact details, nature of the placement (work based or problem/project based).

c. Student to provide evidence of their Program Director's support of the proposed placement as an appendix to the application (e.g. email or letter).

d. Student to provide full personal details, including name and student ID, email address and contact telephone number, name of program, units successfully completed.

e. To be submitted to the Course Coordinator amanda.daly@unisa.edu.au by 5pm Monday 18 June 2012.

f. Maximum length: 2 x A4 pages, 12 point font.


Applications will be assessed using the following criteria:

1. Points (a) to (f) above addressed.

2. Goals carefully thought through with achievable outcomes identified.

3. Evidence provided that the proposed project has the support of a workplace supervisor.

4. Clearly and succinctly written, with evidence of careful editing.

5. Appropriate register/tone.

6. No more than 2 A4 pages.


Note 1: Students may elect to undergo the work placement as part of their current employment. In this case, it is expected that the student would undertake additional responsibilities, manage a particular project, or work to resolve a specific problem or issue. This would need to be carefully detailed in the application.

Note 2: There are only 20 places in the course. The Course Coordinator reserves the right not to accept any applications if the criteria has not been met.

Note 3: Students must meet the prerequisites for the course. Please see above.

Note 4: Depending on the nature of the work placement, students may need to undergo a police check.


There are only 20 places available in this exciting new course. Applications will be assessed, notified and enrolled as they are received, so don't leave your application until the last minute!