BE700 - Industry Experience

Credit Points: 0 credit points

Workload: Full-time for 8 weeks work in relevant industry

Prerequisite: Completion of at least 120 credit points at the BEngTech level An average mark in the preceding trimesters of at least a pass Completion of pre-placement study skills workshops Students may register for and plan for industry experience.

Co-requisite: N/A

Aims & Objectives

Industry experience is a prerequisite for professional accreditation by Engineers Australia. In this unit the aim is to provide the student with the skills to secure industry placement and be successful in his or her industry experience. Industry placement is an opportunity for engineering students to undertake paid or unpaid employment placement in industry for 8 weeks. These placements must be relevant to a students’ course of study. Many placements are particular to major discipline area(s). It is anticipated that each student during industry experience will be involved in the day to day operation of the business and have the opportunity to develop practical workplace skills.
Prior to undertaking an industry experience, formal workshops are scheduled and attendance at the workshops are compulsory for students enrolled in the unit and is prerequisite for passing industry experience unit. During industry experience, there are no formal classes for the unit. Student learning will occur in industry and via reflections on experiences. Students will make use of a personal journal, which will need to be kept up to date and discussed with the Industry Experience Coordinator and online discussions may be offered.
This unit provides information on the requirements for industry experience. At each stage of your industry experience there are forms to be filled and approvals to be obtained from relevant authorities in MIT. The forms are available online in Moodle under the unit shell. Students are required to read the “Guidelines on ‘Engineering Industry Experience Program’. Students are also required to go through the Question and Answer section of the guidelines. This should be read before any student approaches the industry experience coordinator (IC) or the Head of School for explanations on industry experience as it provides answers to many of the questions that students might want answered on industry experience.
Each student is required to be pro-active in seeking places in industry for his or her industry experience. Hence prior to embarking on placement in this unit, students are required to attend a series of workshops. The workshops are used to help the student to learn how to:

  • Write resumes and cover letters
  • Search for jobs
  • Address selection criteria
  • Write reflective journals
  • Write reflective reports
  • Presentation of industry experiences
  • Mock job placement interview sessions
  • Ethics in Engineering Practice
  • HR, OH&S and workplace behaviour

Learning Outcomes

Whilst on placement students will:
a. Develop their technical and non-technical skills.
b. Apply theoretical knowledge in real world situations.
c. Develop an understanding and appreciation of the complexity of the work environment.
d. Interact with many professionals.
e. Be expected to reflect and develop theories based on personal experiences.
f. Be exposed to the career options they can pursue upon graduation.
g. Grow and develop personally whilst improving their generic skills.

Weekly Topics

Pre-placement workshops have been organised under this unit for students that are preparing to go for industry experience. Attendance at these workshops is mandatory and assessed as part of the assessment requirements for the unit. Students may not be allowed to progress to start industry experience if they have not completed the pre-placement workshops.
This unit does not have other formal contents. The content after pre-placement workshops is driven by the industry placement itself.

Assessment

Assessment Task Due Date A B Learning Outcomes Assessed

Pre-placement workshops –

  • 500 word report on company background researched from the web
  • Prepare sample cover letter
  • Prepare sample resume
  • Prepare sample addressing selection criteria
 Week 10   20% Independent learning Analytical skills Ability to communicate

During placement –

Student is to maintain a weekly reflective diary identifying the type of learning activities in the workplace. This is counter-signed by industry experience supervisor (IES) and provides a focus for the reflection and analysis of the learning experience

 Week 1 to 8 of placement. Counter-signed each week by IES   20% Independent learning Analytical skills Specialist knowledge

After placement –

  • Reflective journal and learning portfolio to provide evidence of skills development.
  • Final report which identifies significant growth in skills and knowledge during placement and identifies the impact of the placement – 1000 words
  •  A report of your activities and performance from your industry supervisor in the company letterhead
 4 weeks from the day of completion of industry experience 60%   a-g
TOTALS   60% 40%  

Task Type: Type A: unsupervised, Type B: supervised.

A Final Industry Experience Report’ template is available for students to download from Moodle. It should be followed as much as is possible.

Textbook and Reference Materials

Industry Experience Guidelines (online in Moodle)

Graduate Attributes

MIT is committed to ensure the course is current, practical and relevant so that graduates are “work ready” and equipped for life-long learning. In order to accomplish this, the MIT Graduate Attributes identify the required knowledge, skills and attributes that prepare students for the industry.
The level to which Graduate Attributes covered in this unit are as follows:

Ability to communicate Independent and Lifelong Learning Ethics Analytical and Problem Solving Cultural and Global Awareness Team work Specialist knowledge of a field of study

Legend

Levels of attainment Extent covered
The attribute is covered by theory and practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students always play an active role, e.g. workshops, lab submissions, assignments, demonstrations, tests, examinations.
The attribute is covered by theory or practice, and addressed by assessed activities in which the students mostly play an active role, e.g. discussions, reading, intepreting documents, tests, examinations.
The attribute is discussed in theory or practice; it is addressed by assessed activities in which the students may play an active role, e.g. lectures and discussions, reading, interpretation, workshops, presentations.
The attribute is presented as a side issue in theory or practice; it is not specifically assessed, but it is addressed by activities such as lectures or tutorials.
The attribute is not considered, there is no theory or practice or activities associated with this attribute.