International Internship in Development

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

Total of 120 hours

Students must seek coordinator permission prior to enrolling in DEVT90008.

Students enrolling in this subject must have a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

International Internship is an elective (25 credit points) available to Masters level students in Development and various cognate disciplines and fields of study. It provides students with the opportunity to gain exposure to a different cultural, socio-political and organisational context and to think critically about the nature of the relationship between 'theory' and 'practice' in Development or their related field of study. The broad aim of the internship program is thus to provide the opportunity for graduate students to gain invaluable practical experience and to build their individual 'industry' networks in order to facilitate a better understanding of the nature and expectations of work in their chosen field or area of interest. Students are able to select a host organisation to further enhance their knowledge and skills in their chosen area of interest and to make a positive contribution to the host organisation by applying their previous experience, skills and knowledge learnt through study, being able to work independently as well as within a team, produce the highest quality written work. Approval for international internship is based on the enthusiasm and commitment of students and ability to illustrate that they are able to act with flexibility, maturity, integrity and gender and cultural sensitivity.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• understand the goals and manner of operation of one international development agency;
• recognise the relationship between theoretical understandings of development and practical development work on the ground;
• be practised in "doing" development in a non-Australian cultural context.

A reflective journal of 2500 words (30%), a reflexive report of 1,500 words (20%), and a major essay of 4000 words (50%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: A 15 minute oral presentation on the internship placement experience (equivalent to approximately 2000 words), and Host supervisor assessment report.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Appropriate texts will be determined in consultation with the internship coordinator

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• be able to write critical evaluations of the work of a development agency;
• be able to work within international organisations;
• apply theoretical knowledge to practical day to day decision making;
• be able to conduct policy-related research, write policy proposals, design development projects, evaluate projects;
• be capable of working in a cross-cultural context.

Students must be granted special permission from the subject coordinator Dr. Vicki Schubert (violetas@unimelb.edu.au) prior to enrolling in DEVT90008.