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AGS400 Agricultural Industry Practicum (32)

Abstract

The purpose of this subject is to prepare students to enter their chosen career in a supported manner that encourages personal and professional development. This subject allows students to take the knowledge gained in previous subjects and apply it within a business context.

Students apply for and sit interviews with businesses (with which the School has an ongoing relationship) to gain a place with the business for a 12 week practicum. Within the business, trained staff are assigned to each student to act as a mentor and to assess the students development within the workplace.
During practicum and the teaching periods before and after, students are evaluated on a range of assessment tasks designed to encourage reflection of the students own professional/personal development.

These tasks are also designed to improve a students communication and interpersonal skills, technical competency, and self-learning and problem solving skills in the context of a business.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Session 1
InternalWagga Wagga Campus
Session 2
InternalWagga Wagga Campus
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: AGS400
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
Two sessionsHD/FLSchool of Agricultural and Wine Sciences

Enrolment restrictions

This subject is specific to The Bachelor of Agricultural Science students. Students who have not completed all of the first 3 years of this course cannot enrol into this subject.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- 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 or 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 12 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

Work Place Learning

This subject contains a Workplace Learning component. Please contact the subject coordinator for further information.This subject contains a Workplace Learning component. Please contact the subject coordinator for further information.

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The information contained in the 2016 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 06 September 2016. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.