Science and Technology Internship

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

For detailed information on submitting an expression of interest and the application process, refer to the Faculty of Science website: http://science.unimelb.edu.au/students/enrich-your-studies/Science-Technology-Internship-Masters

Estimated Total Time Commitment: 170 hours

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

A strong undergraduate preparation in an appropriate area of science

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 the subject, students will have completed and reported on a course-related experience in a science or technology workplace. They will also have enhanced employability skills including communication, interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving, organisational and time-management skills, as well as an understanding of career planning and professional development.
More specifically, 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.
• See themselves as beginning professionals and potential change agents rather than inductees into an existing work environment

Semester 1 and 2

• Completion of all online pre-placement modules, prior to commencement of internship (hurdle)
• 2,000-word career case-study based on an information interview with an employee in your placement organization due Week 6 (40%)
• 15-minute narrated presentation on the goals and key learnings of the internship experience, recorded and submitted by the end of Week 11 (20%)
• 2,000 word post-placement essay addressing the connections between your 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)
• Completion of subject wrap-up online modules (hurdle)

Summer Semester

• 2,000 word career case-study based on an information interview with an employee in your placement organization due at the end of the placement (40%)
• 15-minute narrated presentation on the goals and key learnings of the internship experience due one week after the end of the placement (20%)
• 2,000 word post-placement essay addressing the connections between your course learning and work placement learning due three weeks after the end of the placement (40%)
• Completion of all online pre-placement modules, prior to commencement of internship (hurdle)
• 80 hours of satisfactory work placement, confirmed by placement supervisor (hurdle)
• Completion of subject wrap-up online modules (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