WSC400 Wine Industry Practicum (32)
CSU Discipline Area: Viticulture/Wine Science (VITWN)
Duration: Two sessions
Abstract:
This subject enables students to access commercial wineries and vineyards with supporting wine industry companies. The students will take up a placement with one or more companies and be expected to contribute to a range of vineyard and winery activities over the course of 6 months. Training in aspects of both wine making and vineyard management will be provided within the companies. Supervision of the training will be in conjunction with the staff and in compliance with that particular company protocols and proceedures.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
No offerings have been identified for this subject in 2013.Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details prior to contacting their course coordinator: WSC400
Where differences exist between the handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Enrolment restrictions:
This subject is restricted to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Viticulture and Wine Science degree. Students must have completed all subjects at PS level or better in the first 3 years before enrolling into this subject.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- have gained practical experience in most tasks involved in commercial wine making, including equipment preparation, grape preparartion and must handling, fermentation procedures, fining, stabilisation and clarification, bottling and wine industry laboratory work.
- have gained practical experience in vineyard management and practices, including pruning, phenological determination, disease and pest monitoring, inflorecence counting, yield determination, bunch maturation and harvesting. Additional experience in sampling protocols, irrigation practices and vineyard maintenance and other vineyard practices will be acquired in keeping with the particular vineyard operations.
- be able to write an effective job application and curriculum vitae
- be able to demonstrate and effectively convey appropriate skills during practice job interviews
- be able to discuss the complexities of industry practice in context
- be able to work effectively and show formed linkages with the part of Industry towards which they have a career orientation
- be able to obtain a level of technical competency to allow them to operate effectively and independently within the workplace
- be able to extend and give practical application to the knowledge gained in previous subjects
- be able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication strategies when engaging with people, including clients, work colleagues and other industry professionals
- be able to participate effectively as part of a team
- be able to observe and critically analyse a commercial business and suggest potential ways in which to develop practice
- be able to demonstrate an understanding of how to identify problems within the workplace or region and demonstrate problem-solving skills
- be able to clearly identify personal goals and learning needs with regard to professional practice and development including an ability to learn independently
- be able to maintain a portfolio identifying practicum experiences and the learning that has taken place as a result of these experiences.
- be able to demonstrate professional conduct within a workplace
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
Students will be required to apply and sit an interview to enable practicum within a workplace of their choosing.
- Upon successful application, a trained industry staff member will be assigned to mentor students and monitor their performance within the workplace on a range of pre-determined competencies agreed upon by the Subject coordinator, the student and the mentor.
- Two weeks of work experience will be conducted at the workplace prior to the beginning of the practicum period to ensure compatibility and will be graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory by Subject Coordinator prior to the beginning of the practicum period. Renegotiation with students/mentors or alternative practicum placement may need to occur at this point to ensure students are properly supported.
- The practicum period extends for 27 weeks and occurs outside teaching blocks set at the beginning of first semester and end of second semester (actual timing of the practicum period is to be negotiated between student and mentor).
- Throughout this subject, students will be required to undertake a series of assessment activities to demonstrate personal and professional development, improved interpersonal skills, problem solving in a business context and professional conduct.
- Professional portfolio, reflective piece aimed to identify professional development needs and describe the process of addressing those needs.
- Reflective journal or Blog
- Major project identifying a technical problem in the workplace or region (case study) and provide a method of solving the issue using problem-based learning methods
- Presentation of a seminar on the major project to the University and Industry members
- Curriculum Vitae and job interviews
- Industry mentor evaluation of competencies within the workplace, 3 step process staggered throughout the year
The subject will cover the following topics during teaching blocks:
- Commercial acumen
- Workplace dynamics
- Professional conduct (presentation skills, time management, active listening)
- Communication skills (oral and written)
- Problem solving within a business context
Workplace Learning
This subject contains a Workplace Learning component. Please contact the subject coordinator for further information.
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.