27350 Professional Internship

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

In this subject, students undertake a professional internship with an organisation in the leisure, sport or tourism industry. This assists in developing employment skills, knowledge and contacts identified as essential to their career goals. Through their internship, students are exposed to the managerial functions and activities of their chosen industry. A written reflection on each period of internship is required. Students are required to undertake up 240 hours of industry internship.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. develop and refine written and oral communication skills for the workplace
2. develop work-ready knowledge, skills and values
3. apply theories, concepts and skills learnt at university to a professional internship project
4. show evidence of reflection on the professional internship experience.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject prepares students for the workplace. Through an industry work placement, the subject allows students to put into practice the knowledge, concepts and skills they have learnt at university. The subject assists the student in making industry sector choices for their future career.

Teaching and learning strategies

The majority of students' time is spent in the workplace environment. This experience is supplemented by lectures, industry and successful graduate's presentations. On site instruction is provided by the industry internship employer. Content for this subject will be supported by UTSOnline.

Content

• Experiential learning and reflection
• Career opportunities, job pathways and trends
• Introduction to portfolio development
• Effective written and, oral communication skills for the workplace
• Work-ready skills and professional responsibilities
• On-site learning of managerial functions and activities in a relevant industry sector.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Internship Proposal (Individual)

Assessment item 2: Report of Internship (Individual)

Indicative references

Boud, D. and Garrick, J. (eds) 1999, Understanding learning at work, Routledge, London

Bratton, J. 2004, Workplace learning, a critical introduction, Garamond Press, Aurora, Ont

Bright, J and Earl, J. 2004, Résumés that get shortlisted; Proven strategies to get the job you want, Allen and Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW

Posner, G. 2000, Field Experience: A Guide to Reflective Teaching, Longman, New York

Schon, D. 1995, The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action, Arena, Aldershot.