Science and Technology Internship

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Estimated Total Time Commitment of 120-144 hours

Completion of 100 points of study that may contribute to the science component of the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedicine or included in the following Bachelor of Environments majors: Civil Systems, Environmental Science, Geomatics, Landscape Management, Physical Systems.

Enrolment in this subject requires subject coordinator approval, following endorsement of the student’s resume, internship application form and placement.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject involves completion of an 80-100 hour science or technology work placement integrating academic learning in science areas of study, employability skills and attributes and an improved knowledge of science and technology organisations, workplace culture and career pathways. The placement is supplemented by pre- and post-placement classes designed to develop an understanding of science and technology professions, introduce skills for developing, identifying and articulating employability skills and attributes and linking them to employer requirements in the science and technology domains. The placement will draw on students’ specific discipline skills associated with the science core of their degree. Pre-placement seminars will also include consideration of career planning and professional skills.

Students will be responsible for identifying a suitable work placement prior to the semester, with support of the Subject Coordinator. In the semester prior to your placement you should attend Careers & Employment (C&E) employment preparation seminars and workshops as well as accessing other C&E resources to assist you in identifying potential host organisations http://careers.unimelb.edu.au .You will need to commence your approaches to organisations at least 4 weeks before the placement. More information is available in the Subject Guide. Placements must be approved by the Subject Coordinator. If you have problems finding a placement you should approach the Subject Coordinator.

On completion of the subject, students will have completed and reported on a course-related project in a science or technology workplace. They will also have enhanced employability skills including communication, interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving, organisational and time-management, and an understanding of career planning and professional development.

On completion of Science and Technology Internship, students should be able to:

• Identify and articulate their knowledge and skills and apply them to relevant science organisational contexts and work-settings; as well as linking them to specific professions and career pathways;
• Produce original work in an appropriate format which demonstrates scientific analytical, research and problem-solving skills;
• Review and reflect on the process and output of a work project/placement to articulate their academic and career development learning from the experience;
• Understand the value of industry and professional networks and their importance to self reliance, lifelong learning and career progression.

• 1,500-word career case-study based on an information interview with an employee in your placement organization, due mid-semester (30%);
• Individual poster presentation on a work-related or discipline specific topic, due late in the semester (15%);
• 20-minute individual presentation on a work-related or discipline specific topic, presented late in the semester (15%);
• 2,000 word post-placement essay addressing the connections between your BSc course learning and work placement learning, due at the beginning of the examination period (40%);
• 80 hours of satisfactory work placement, confirmed by placement supervisor (hurdle);
• Seminar attendance of 100% (hurdle).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of Science and Technology Internship, students should be able to demonstrate:

• Flexibility, adaptability, time management and organisational skills as a result of their participation in the workplace;
• Ability to communicate effectively in a professional workplace and to work with and interact with a wide range of people inside and outside their host organisations, including working in teams;
• Understanding of organisational culture and ethics, safe work practices, and the diversity of workplaces;
• Analytical, problem-solving, research, and report-writing skills;
• Ability to manage and plan work;
• Capacity for initiative and enterprise;
• Capacity for lifelong learning, self reliance and professional development