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Business Practicum (BUSA90473)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville) and Off Campus
To learn more, visit 2023 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
Semester 1
June
Overview
| Availability | Summer Term - On Campus Semester 1 - Off Campus June - Off Campus |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides an insight into the complexities and challenges of making business decisions in an Australian setting. Working in small teams, students 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 Australian 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, and as a semester-long subject during Semester 1. For the semester-long subject students will be required to attend a virtual weekly meeting with the host organisation. The meeting will occur on either a Wednesday or a Friday afternoon (AEST), time to be determined by the host organisaton. Students must be available for both time periods, even though you will only attend meet with the company during one of the time periods. This is to enable allocation to a suitable project.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Apply theory and practice of graduate level studies in commerce to resolving real-world business issues
- Research, analyse, evaluate and propose practical business solutions within the bounds of the exercise
- Identify key strategic questions, assess options related to the exercise, communicate progress and check direction with team members, academic mentor and the practicum organisation
- Demonstrate key attributes sought by employers 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;
- Team-work 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 Australian 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: 18 August 2023
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Entry is via a competitive selection process and 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 this subject upon conclusion of the selection process.
- Students who have already completed the Global 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 more information on how to apply:
https://mbs.unimelb.edu.au/career/apply-your-learning/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: 18 August 2023
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Practicum Training Tasks. Individual assessment Hurdle requirement: Practicum training tasks, including 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)
| 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 | During the teaching period | 20% |
Additional details
This subject has hurdle requirements consisting of the completion of online training modules and face-to-face/remote training tasks.
Last updated: 18 August 2023
Dates & times
- Summer Term - On Campus
Coordinator Sharon Soltys Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 23 January 2023 Pre teaching requirements Completion of online modules Teaching period 30 January 2023 to 10 February 2023 Last self-enrol date 24 January 2023 Census date 3 February 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 10 February 2023 Assessment period ends 17 February 2023 Summer Term contact information
- Semester 1 - Off Campus
Coordinator Sharon Soltys Mode of delivery Off Campus Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2023 Census date 31 March 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023 Assessment period ends 23 June 2023 Semester 1 contact information
- June - Off Campus
Coordinator Sharon Soltys Mode of delivery Off Campus Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 19 June 2023 Pre teaching requirements Completion of online modules Teaching period 25 June 2023 to 14 July 2023 Last self-enrol date 20 June 2023 Census date 7 July 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 July 2023 Assessment period ends 21 July 2023 June contact information
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours per semester
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
- Completion rate. Students who started their course from 2022 and are in a CSP or receiving a HELP Loan (eg FEE-HELP) must meet the completion rate to continue to receive Commonwealth Support for that course.
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement, and as a fail toward the completion rate, unless there are approved ‘special circumstances’.
Additional delivery details
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: 18 August 2023
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
None
- 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.
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.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Last updated: 18 August 2023