Outline

Overview

The Business Practicum offers students an opportunity to interact with a sponsor organisation (e.g., corporate, SME, NFP, government) while working on a project provided by it that requires a specific outcome by the end of the semester. The project examines the sponsor's current activities, challenges and future aspirations. While undertaking the unit, participants research the issues presented by the project and determine its scope and key deliverables in consultation with the sponsor. This process enables students to apply theoretical knowledge learned in class, where it is useful, and critically analyse data found during research to provide possible solutions to the problems identified. The final stage is communicating the key outcomes via a written report to the sponsor at the end of the project. Additionally, for the duration of the project, students are expected to reflect on how they have developed as an individual and as part of a team as a means of developing a professional identity that highlights their distinctive self and to consider their own personal employment strategies while building professional networks.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Work Integrated Learning Hub
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	Completion of at least 48 credit points
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	A sound understanding of business and strong written and oral communication skills.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Gaia Grant, gaia.grant@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	ASSSESSMENT 1: Project proposal Proposal	15%	Week 02 Due date: 17 Mar 2021 at 11:59 Closing date: 24 Mar 2021	1250 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	ASSESSMENT 2: Individual report (mid-way reflection) Reflective essay	25%	Week 06 Due date: 14 Apr 2021 at 11:59 Closing date: 21 Apr 2021	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	ASSESSMENT 3: Group final presentation Presentation	30%	Week 12 Due date: 30 May 2021 at 11:59 Closing date: 06 Jun 2021	15-20 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	ASSESSMENT 4: Final Individual Report Report	30%	Week 13 Due date: 03 Jun 2021 at 11:59 Closing date: 10 Jun 2021	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

ASSESSMENT 1: Project proposal – This assessment serves to help students layout (a) the ideas they would like to contribute to the project and (b) the skills that they will draw on to contribute to the team. At least one of the contributions a student makes must be clearly connected with their major. This document is thus how the student will propose to contribute to the project in terms of ideas and in practice.
ASSESSMENT 2: Mid-way reflection - This task requires that students critically reflect on their experience working on the client project to date. In the paper the student is to compare their initial thoughts as expressed in the project proposal with what they have learnt to date about themself, including assessing how well they are contributing to the team and project. As a part of this reflection process, the student must engage critically with an academic framework that informs their analysis.
ASSESSMENT 3: Final Group Presentation – At the end of the semester each group will be required to create a digital long-form presentation based upon their final report to the client. Each member of the team must have their own section and present for equal time as each other. While this is a group presentation, students are graded individually for their presentation skills (audio and visual).
ASSESSMENT 4: Final Report – This assessment is designed to help students analyse and apply what they have learned from the project experience. The report needs to cover a brief overview of the project, along with personal reflections on what the student learnt from the experience and can apply in their career. The report should prepare students for job interviews by ensuring they can identify and communicate about their professional development.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date: (1) Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. (2) After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded. https://business.sydney.edu.au/students/policy

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	A. TEAM PREPARATION FOR THE PROJECT - Project overview & teamwork strategies. (Note: Each week includes an interactive seminar (1 hr) + team workshop (2 hr) – online and face-to-face options are available for the workshop)	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 02	B. CLIENT PREPARATION FOR THE PROJECT - Meeting the client, understanding the brief, and initial insights.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 03	C. RESEARCH PREPARATION FOR THE PROJECT - The philosophy of research, meta-theory, and data collection.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	MODE 1. IDENTIFY CHALLENGES (DISCOVER): Collecting data - Following, forgetting, and improvising.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 05	MODE 2. CLARIFY CHALLENGES (DEFINE): Managing the client journey - understanding a client brief, storyboarding, and ideation.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 06	MODE 3. DESIGN SOLUTIONS (DEVELOP): (a) PLAN APPROACH - Planning, modelling, and mapping. First round of project progress 'check ins'. Each project group is expected to have a skeleton draft ready using their Gantt chart (allocation of resources, project timings etc)	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 07	MODE 3. (b) TESTING - Protoyping, feedback, and swallowing frogs.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 08	MODE 3. (c) REFINING - Revising, reviewing, and killing your darlings. Sponsor briefing (Q&A about the project's progress, obstacles, clarifications)	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 09	MODE 4. PRESENT SOLUTIONS (DELIVER): (a) PREPARING TO PRESENT: Presentation master class - learning to pitch and perform. Second round of project progress 'check ins'. Each project group is expected to have a working draft demonstrating research progress and potential findings.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 10	MODE 4. (b) FINALISING PRESENTATION - Developing, designing, and making final decisions.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 11	MODE 4. (c) PRACTISING THE PITCH - Final pitch revision, practice, and refinement.	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 12	MODE 4. (d) PRESENTING THE PITCH - The final pitch presentations to the client sponsor	Workshop (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Seminar: Note that the 1-hour seminars each week will be delivered wholly online and recordings will be made available on Canvas, but these sessions are designed to be interactive so attendance is highly recommended.
Workshops: Real-time attendance at the 2-hour weekly workshops is essential as they involve project-based work. You are required to attend 90% of these workshop sessions. Keep in mind you must watch the seminar before you attend the workshop (tutorial).

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. apply and illustrate the knowledge and skills developed in business studies within a specific organisational setting
LO2. demonstrate contextually relevant written and oral communication skills
LO3. identify, research, analyse and evaluate issues facing modern organisations operating in a business environment; apply appropriate models and propose practicable recommendations.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit will have a higher digital component this semester to cater for off-site students.

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Business School Policies

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BUSS6104: Business Practicum

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect