Unit rationale, description and aim
Employers, particularly those in the rapidly-developing fields of science, health and medicine (both within and outside of Australia), look for attributes well beyond mere technical ability. Problem-solving and communication skills are considered particularly important for a successful career in biomedical science. Students develop many of the desired transferable and technical skills during their degree, but it can be difficult to effectively communicate these competencies to prospective employers.
In this unit students have the opportunity to identify skills important for their future careers, and reflect on their own work readiness via a thorough skills analysis. Students will develop their ability to effectively communicate their skills for both potential Australian and international employers and better navigate the career opportunities available to them. The learning activities and assessments are designed to support students as they gain evidence of their skills and of their ability to contribute to a workplace environment. This unit aims to engage students in work integrated learning (WIL) experiences to refine skill areas requiring improvement and explore career areas of interest. It also helps to prepare students for commencing work by consolidating requisite workplace skills, including the development of a professional resumé, a job application, and interview skills.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Examine the range of career pathways and employmen...
Learning Outcome 01
Objectively assess their employability skills by (...
Learning Outcome 02
Demonstrate insight to oneself and to potential em...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
Understanding the Australian and International job market
- Career opportunities
- Effective job searching
Understanding myself
- Professional identity
- Skills audit
- Resumé preparation
Building work readiness
- Work-readiness knowledge and skills
- Reflective practice to evaluate one’s self and work-based experiences
Entering the job market
- Targeted resumé preparation
- Preparing a job application
- Interview skills
Assessment strategy and rationale
Assessments focus on real world tasks in the process of finding, experiencing and reflecting on work, ensuring that students produce outputs that are useful to the employment process. This enables students to curate evidence of the skills and attributes desired by potential employers. The assessments allow students to focus on transferable skills developed through their degree as well as reflecting on how the content relates to potential workplace experience and its applicability in the wider workspace.
On campus - in Rome
Assessments focus on real world tasks in the process of finding, experiencing and reflecting on work, with emphasis on the benefits and challenges associated with employment opportunities outside of Australia, ensuring that students produce outputs that are useful to the employment process. This enables students to curate evidence of the skills and attributes desired by potential employers. The assessments allow students to focus on transferable skills developed through their degree as well as reflecting on how the content relates to potential workplace experience and its applicability in the wider workspace.
Overview of assessments
On-campus
Assessment 1: Understanding the job market (Summa...
Assessment 1: Understanding the job market (Summative)
Students choose jobs/roles relevant to biomedical sciences, identify the skill requirements of the roles, and research the sectors and organisations. The task mimics the type of research undertaken by a job-seeker. Students write a report of their findings, including some reflection on the similarities and differences found between job opportunities offered in Australia and available overseas.
15%
Assessment 2: Understanding myself (S ummative ) ...
Assessment 2: Understanding myself (Summative)
This task requires students to reflect on their skills set in the context of future employment. Students submit a skills audit summary and a generic resumé.
20%
Assessment 3: Building work readiness (Summative)...
Assessment 3: Building work readiness (Summative)
This task allows students to reflect on their work-integrated learning (WIL) experience, allowing application of reflective practice to work-based experiences.
15%
Assessment 4: Entering the job market (S ummative...
Assessment 4: Entering the job market (Summative)
Requires students to integrate knowledge and skills learnt throughout the semester and in previous assessment pieces to simulate applying for a job, including a reflection on the mock interview process.
50%
On-campus in Rome
Assessment 1: Understanding the job market (Summa...
Assessment 1: Understanding the job market (Summative)
Students choose jobs/roles relevant to biomedical sciences, identify the skill requirements of the roles, and research the sectors and organisations. The task mimics the type of research undertaken by a job-seeker. Students write a report of their findings, including some reflection on the similarities and differences found between job opportunities offered in Australia and available overseas.
15%
Assessment 2: Understanding myself (S ummative ) ...
Assessment 2: Understanding myself (Summative)
This task requires students to reflect on their skills set in the context of future employment. Students submit a skills audit summary and a generic resumé.
20%
Assessment 3: Building work readiness (Summative)...
Assessment 3: Building work readiness (Summative)
This task allows students to reflect on their work-integrated learning (WIL) experience, allowing application of reflective practice to work-based experiences, with emphasis on the challenges and potential benefits associated with an employment opportunity outside of Australia.
15%
Assessment 4: Entering the job market (S ummative...
Assessment 4: Entering the job market (Summative)
Requires students to integrate knowledge and skills learnt throughout the semester and in previous assessment pieces to simulate applying for a job, including a reflection on the mock interview process.
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
An enhanced understanding of the job market and skills desired by employers impacts positively on the job application process and sets students up for a smoother transition to employment. In this unit, students explore trends in biomedical science jobs and career paths available to science graduates. They reflect on skills and knowledge gained from their degree and other life experiences. With this understanding, students learn to tailor a general resumé into a professional portfolio targeting future employment in their chosen profession.
To further evaluate and refine their skills, students are provided an opportunity to engage in a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experience from various offerings. Direct engagement with industry and work-based settings also provide opportunities to build professional connections, inspire confidence and encourage self-reflection.
The immersion of students in mock work-seeking scenarios provides an authentic experience, enabling them to develop key skills to assist in their transition from university to the workplace. Students develop a professional resumé and job application, using online tools and in-class activities to access best practice in resumé writing and interview preparation. Students reflect on employability skills in the biomedical science sector, with reflection feeding back into refinement of the professional resumé and application.
On campus - in Rome
An enhanced understanding of the job market and skills desired by employers impacts positively on the job application process and sets students up for a smoother transition to a global workplace. In this unit, students explore trends in biomedical science jobs and career paths available to science graduates, with a focus on skills important for employment outside of Australia. They also learn about common challenges associated with working overseas and how to integrate into the international biomedical workforce. They reflect on skills and knowledge gained from their degree and other life experiences. With this understanding, students learn to tailor a general resumé into a professional portfolio targeting future employment in their chosen profession.
To further evaluate and refine their skills, students are provided an opportunity to engage in a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experience with global context, providing opportunities to build professional connections, inspire confidence and encourage self-reflection.
The immersion of students in mock work-seeking scenarios outside of their place of study provides an authentic experience, enabling them to develop key skills to assist in their transition from university to the global workplace. Students develop a professional resumé and job application, using online tools and in-class activities to access best practice in resumé writing and interview preparation. Students reflect on employability skills in the international biomedical science sector, with reflection feeding back into refinement of the professional resumé and application.