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Global Business Practicum (BUSA90485)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville) and Online
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Summer Term
Winter Term
November
Overview
Availability | Summer Term - Online Winter Term - On Campus November - On Campus |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides an insight into the complexities and challenges of making business decisions in an international setting. Students will be assigned in small groups to research a business problem in an international context. Working in teams, they will conduct research, analyse, evaluate and propose practical solutions to an assigned business planning or business development exercise. This will be supported by online modules and seminar work equipping the students with knowledge of approaches, tools and techniques for completing the task and an understanding of report formats appropriate for conveying the results. During the practicum, in-depth research will be undertaken in identifying the scope, opportunities, constraints and recommendations of the exercise. Students will learn to work with unstructured and incomplete information in international business settings, to develop research and networks to support their enquiry, to work successfully in teams, to present their findings and seek and receive constructive feedback in a range of settings. Students will also be encouraged to plan, reflect and modify their approaches to improve the outcomes of their efforts in managing the business project.
Note: this subject is available as an intensive subject during the Summer and Winter semesters.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Research, analyse, evaluate and propose practical business solutions within the bounds of the exercise
- Apply theory and practice of graduate level studies in commerce to resolving real-world business issues
- Identify key strategic questions, assess options related to the exercise, communicate progress and check direction with team members, and mentors
- Demonstrate key employability attributes including cross-cultural communication skills, interpersonal skills, time management, commercial acumen, initiative, independent learning and team skills
Generic skills
On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:
- Verbal and written communication skills through discussion and assigned tasks
- Project management, including accurate scoping of project, development of approaches, timelines, execution and timely completion
- Teamwork demonstrated by good communication within the group, understanding of skills brought by individual members, organising for achievement and presenting group report
- Communication skills in an international business context
- Research, problem solving and critical thinking
- Documentation preparation and presentation skills through assigned tasks and the practicum exercise
- Interpersonal skills through the practicum exercise and assigned tasks
- Demonstrate key attributes sought by employers including cross-cultural communication skills, interpersonal skills, time management, commercial acumen, initiative, independent learning and team skills
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Entry is via a competitive selection process as places are limited.
In order to apply:
- Students enrolled in a MBS program or eligible non-MBS program must have completed a minimum of 50 points of their program at the time of application.
- Students must have achieved a minimum weighted average mark for their postgraduate subjects of 70%.
- Students must submit an online application and participate in required selection procedures.
Please note:
- Students are not able to self-enrol. Successful applicants will be enrolled in the subject upon conclusion of the selection process
- Students who have already completed the Business Practicum may submit an Expression of Interest to be placed on a waiting list. Students on the list will only be considered if there is adequate availability.
- Students enrolled in the Master of Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, and Software streams), Master of Information Systems and Master of Information Technology are eligible to apply.
- You must be available for the entire project period You must be available to work on the final report with your team mates once the teaching period is over, until it is due. If you partake in any extra-curricular activity outside the scope of the program which as a result interferes with your participation in the program you may be expelled from the program in accordance with University statutes, regulations and policies.
- Note - The following criteria applied to students who enrolled in the subject in the first half year of 2022: Students must have achieved a minimum Melbourne University equivalent weighted average mark for all undergraduate and postgraduate subjects of 70%
For information on how to apply:
https://mbs.unimelb.edu.au/career/apply-your-learning/global-business-practicum
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students are not permitted to enrol in another intensive subject concurrently with the Melbourne Business Practicum.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Practicum training tasks Hurdle requirement: Online training modules and in-country training tasks. Individual assessment | Week 1 | N/A |
Project Plan. Group assessment
| Week 1 | 10% |
Team Presentation to host company, including slide-deck. (Group performance 10% + individual performance 10%). 1-hour (40-minutes presentation + 20 mins Q&A). Due end of the in-country component
| During the teaching period | 20% |
Group report on assigned project (with accompanying file of resources). Group assessment
| End of the assessment period | 40% |
Reflective Essay
| End of the assessment period | 10% |
Project Performance & Participation – assessment by industry mentor & academic supervisor. Due end of the in-country component | During the teaching period | 20% |
Additional details
This subject has hurdle requirements consisting of the completion of online training modules and face-to-face or zoom training tasks. The online modules must be completed before the face-to-face/zoom training.
*Note: Due to the continuing program disruptions caused by COVID-19 some 2021 - 2022 sections of this subject will be conducted remotely. In the remote version, the project work period will be conducted over three weeks, rather than two, and there will be no associated travel costs (airfares, accommodation, visa fees). You are advised to check the MBS Career Elevation webpage for the latest updates.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Summer Term - Online
Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Total time commitment of 170 hours, including a minimum 80-hours project teamwork. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 22 November 2021 Pre teaching requirements A 6 hour pre-departure seminar (1 x day) and completion of (12 hours) of online training modules. Teaching period 10 January 2022 to 28 January 2022 Last self-enrol date 30 November 2021 Census date 14 January 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 21 January 2022 Assessment period ends 18 February 2022 Summer Term contact information
- Winter Term - On Campus
Coordinator Sharon Soltys Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment of 170 hours, including a minimum 80-hours project teamwork. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 June 2022 to 22 July 2022 Last self-enrol date 1 July 2022 Census date 8 July 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 29 July 2022 Assessment period ends 5 August 2022 Winter Term contact information
- November - On Campus
Coordinator Sharon Soltys Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment of 170 hours, including a minimum 80-hours project teamwork. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 14 November 2022 Pre teaching requirements Online modules Teaching period 22 November 2022 to 9 December 2022 Last self-enrol date 25 November 2022 Census date 2 December 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 December 2022 Assessment period ends 4 January 2023 November contact information
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours per semester
Additional delivery details
When travelling to an overseas destination, in addition to the standard tuition fee this subject incurs extra costs which cover 2-weeks accommodation overseas, flights and other international travel associated costs. For remote practicums, students will only incur the standard tuition fee.
Students are required to undertake a practicum training activities including online training modules (6-hours) and face-to-face/remote training tasks (4-hours).
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Subject notes
Students will apply for a place in the subject through the Melbourne Business School (MBS). Selection is based on a Melbourne University equivalent weighted average mark for all undergraduate and postgraduate subjects successfully completed at the selection date as well as performance in a selection process and is contingent on permission from the Subject Coordinator.
Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) students who have already completed one practicum subject, may apply to take another but will be placed on a waiting list and only offered a place based on availability.
Please note that this subject has special entry requirements including strict application deadlines. This subject also has hurdle requirements consisting of the completion of online training modules and face-to-face/remote training tasks.
In addition to the standard tuition fee this subject incurs extra costs which cover 2-weeks accommodation overseas, flights and other international travel associated costs.
Students must be eligible to obtain visitor visas in the country where the business practicum is conducted.
*Note: Due to the continuing program disruptions caused by COVID-19 some 2021-2022 sections of this subject will be conducted remotely. In the remote version, the project work period will be conducted over three weeks, rather than two, and there will be no associated travel costs (airfares, accommodation, visa fees). You are advised to check the MBS Career Elevation webpage for the latest updates.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Last updated: 31 January 2024