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25999 Business Internship

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

UTS: Business: Finance
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): (72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10026 Bachelor of Business OR 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10027 Bachelor of Business OR 96 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10020 Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Arts International Studies OR 96 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10021 Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Arts International Studies)) OR ((78 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10235 Bachelor of Accounting OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10065 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Business OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10068 Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of Business Diploma Engineering Practice OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10125 Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Laws OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10162 Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Business OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10163 Bachelor of Medical Science Bachelor of Business OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10169 Bachelor of Biotechnology Bachelor of Business OR 144 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10219 Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Science Information Technology)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 21999 Business Internship AND 22999 Business Internship AND 23999 Business Internship AND 24999 Business Internship

Handbook description

In this subject, students undertake an internship with an organisation in a capacity relevant to their academic studies. This assists in developing employment skills, knowledge and contacts which can contribute to their career goals. Through their internship, students are exposed to the professional functions and activities relevant to their field of study (major). A written reflection and report on the outcomes of the internship is required. Students must undertake at least 210 hours of work with a host organisation, which is equivalent to six weeks or 30 days of full-time experience. The terms and time frame of the experience are flexible and may be negotiated between the student and host organisation. The internship must be based on an agreed and approved program of work which aims to achieve predetermined learning objectives.

Subject objectives/outcomes

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

  1. Identify personal work-ready skills and attributes and articulate career goals and interests;
  2. Apply work-ready disciplinary knowledge in a workplace environment;
  3. Critically reflect on the learning and developmental outcomes of a workplace experience; and
  4. Demonstrate appropriate professional performance, conduct and attitudes in a working business environment.

Contribution to course aims and graduate attributes

This subject provides Bachelor of Business students with an opportunity to develop and apply their academic skills and knowledge in the context of a real workplace. It will enhance the students’ employability by increasing their awareness of employers’ expectations of performance and conduct, and develop skills associated with exploring and securing employment opportunities upon graduation.

Teaching and learning strategies

The majority of students' time is spent in the workplace environment. This experience is supplemented by a compulsory preparatory workshop which involves instructive lectures, interactive activities, industry and successful graduates’ presentations. On site guidance is provided by the external host organisation.

Content

Pre-internship

  • Self- Awareness: Pre-internship workshop activities leading to an understanding of personal skills, interests, values and motivations – promotion of individual strengths in writing, e.g. by completing a targeted application form or résumé.
  • Opportunity Awareness: Activities leading to an awareness of the full range of opportunities available to students – internships, hidden job market, networking, exploring career resources.
  • Decision Learning: Research activities which enable students to identify future career goals
  • Transition Learning: Activities leading to an understanding of how to present themselves effectively in writing and in person.
  • Preparing the Proposal: Negotiating and securing an internship; defining learning objectives associated with the internship.
  • Reflective Learning: The process of learning within the internship and reporting on its outcomes.
  • Legal and Ethical Responsibilities: Insurance, workplace health and safety, ethical behaviour, and resolving issues with an internship.

Post-internship

  • Reflection on the Experience: Final report and journal reflecting on personal development and learning outcomes and how to use these outcomes in the first stages of a career.

Assessment

Assessment Item 1: Internship Proposal (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses Subject Learning Objective/s: 1, 2
Weighting: 25

Assessment Item 2: Internship Report (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses Subject Learning Objective/s: 3, 4
Weighting: 35

Assessment Item 3: Reflective Journal (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses Subject Learning Objective/s: 4, 5
Weighting: 30

Assessment Item 4: Workplace Supervisor's Evaluation (Individual)

Intent:

This is not a piece of work to be completed by the student but rather is an appraisal of the student’s performance in the workplace by the host organisation.
Objective(s):

This addresses Subject Learning Objective/s: 4, 5
Weighting: 10

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.

Recommended texts

There is no text for this subject.

References

Bennett, R., Eagle, L., Mousley, W. & Ali-Choudhury, R. (2008) Re-assessing the value of work-experience placements in the context of widening participation in higher education. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 60(2), 105-122.


Boud, D. & Garrick, J. (eds) (1999) Understanding Learning at Work, Routledge, London.


Boud, D. & Middleton, H. (2003) Learning from others at work: communities of practice and infromal learning. Journal of Workplace Learning, 15(5), 194-202.


Bratton, J., Mills, J.H., Pyrch, T. & Sawchuk, P. (2004) Workplace Learning: a Critical Introduction, Garamond Press, Aurora, Ont.


Carson, L. & Fisher, K. (2006) Raising the bar on criticality: students’ critical reflection in an internship program. Journal of Management Education, 30(5), 700-723.


Clark, S.C. (2003) Enhancing the educational value of business internships. Journal of Management Education, 27(4), 472-484.


Duignan, J. (2003) Placement and adding value to the academic performance of undergraduates: reconfiguring the architecture – an empirical investigation. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 55(3), 335-350.


Fanthome, C (2004) Work Placements: a Survival Guide for Students. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke.


Gault, J., Leach, E. & Duey, M. (2010) Effects of business internships on job marketability: the employer’s perspective. Education + Training, 52(1), 76-88.


Knouse, S.B. & Fontenot, G. (2008) Benefits of the business college internship: a research review. Journal of Employment Counseling, 45, June, 61-66.


McCormick, D.W. (1993) Critical thinking, experiential learning, and internships. Journal of Management Education, 17(2), 260-262.


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


Walmsley, A., Thomas, R. & Jameson, S. (2012) Internships in SMEs and career intentions. Journal of Education and Work, 25(2), 185-204.


Walters, D. & Zafira, D. (2008) Earnings and employment outcomes for male and female postsecondary graduates of coop and non-coop programmes. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 60(4), 377-399.


All the above references are in the UTS library and all of the journal articles are available online via the UTS Library catalogue.

Other resources

Internet sites:

UTS Careers Service
https://www.uts.edu.au/div/cas/

Faculty of Business
http://www.business.uts.edu.au/graduates/index.html