Students

PICT8016 – Internship

2024 – Session 1, In person-placement, Other

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Roger Huang
roger.huang@mq.edu.au
Mariam Farida
mariam.farida@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
[Admission to MCrim or MPICT or MCPICT or MPICTMIntSecSt or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism or MIntellMCrim or MIntellMCyberSec or MIntellMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCTerrorism or MCyberSecMCrim or MCTerrorismMCrim or MCPICTMIntSecSt or MIntSecStud or MSecStrategicStud or MIntell or MCTerrorism or MCyberSec or Master of Cyber Security Analysis or admission to BSecStudMCTerrorism or BSecStudMCrim or BSecStudMCyberSecAnalysis or BSecStudMIntell or BSecStudMSecStrategicStud] and permission by special approval and 30cp at 8000 level.
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The Department of Security Studies and Criminology (SSC) offers a unique opportunity for students to complete a security industry-focused internship as part of their Masters degree. There are a number of companies and organisations that host SSC post-graduate interns, including multinational consulting and insurance firms, think tanks, non-government organisations (NGO), defence contractors, and both public service regulatory and policing organisations. Expressions of Interest must be submitted to the course convenor. The timeline for submission is: for Session 2 participation by 15 April each year; for Session 1 participation by 15 September each year. Internship placements are made by matching student interests and study stream specialties as much as possible, but student flexibility is required due to the limited number of partnering agencies. Students are able to experience real-world, professional settings in a security organisation's workplace. SSC cannot guarantee any particular workplace and placements are made through a competitive selection process; a minimum grade point average of 70% is required to apply. Students may nominate their own internship placements in a relevant security organisation upon unit convenor approval.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate professional, technical competence and appraise workplace learning using reflective practice and on the job training skills.
  • ULO2: Apply knowledge gained during student's program of study to complex workplace situations; work independently and to professional standards.
  • ULO3: Exhibit legal and ethical workplace standards of performance and care.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Workplace Supervisor's Report 60% No End of Internship (Week 13)
Placement Report 20% No 27/05/2024
Organisational Review 20% No 08/04/2024

Workplace Supervisor's Report

Assessment Type 1: Work-integrated task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: End of Internship (Week 13)
Weighting: 60%

 

The workplace supervisor’s report will be completed by the student’s supervisor at the host organisation on completion of their internship. The report is based on the supervisor’s assessment of the student’s performance during the internship.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professional, technical competence and appraise workplace learning using reflective practice and on the job training skills.
  • Apply knowledge gained during student's program of study to complex workplace situations; work independently and to professional standards.
  • Exhibit legal and ethical workplace standards of performance and care.

Placement Report

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 27/05/2024
Weighting: 20%

 

The placement report is a discussion piece about the student’s own role within the host organisation. The first section of the report should include a broad description of the projects and functions the student has undertaken, a description of key events and outline competencies acquired during the internship. The second part of the report should examine how the practical realities of the workplace either differed to or consolidated the more theoretical knowledge gained during the student’s degree. Importantly, the report should provide an in-depth and honest self-assessment of the student’s performance during their placement.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professional, technical competence and appraise workplace learning using reflective practice and on the job training skills.
  • Apply knowledge gained during student's program of study to complex workplace situations; work independently and to professional standards.
  • Exhibit legal and ethical workplace standards of performance and care.

Organisational Review

Assessment Type 1: Work-integrated task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 08/04/2024
Weighting: 20%

 

The organisational review is a discussion piece situating the host organisation within the broader Australian national security framework. It should give consideration to both national and organisational history and context and the function of the host organisation. It should demonstrate awareness of and engagement with the national or international security issues or trends that form the primary focus of the organisation’s activities.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate professional, technical competence and appraise workplace learning using reflective practice and on the job training skills.
  • Apply knowledge gained during student's program of study to complex workplace situations; work independently and to professional standards.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS  

  • You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in Ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.  

  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.  

  • In most cases students are required to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.  

 REQUIRED READINGS  

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.  

   TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED  

  • Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.  

  • This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/  

  • Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.  

  • Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at  http://students.mq.edu.au/it_services/  

   SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS  

  • All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.   

  • Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date.  

  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.  

  • The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration  

   LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.    

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS  

  • Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.  

  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.  

  • If the number of words deviates from the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of the awarded mark for every 100 words deviation from the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).  

  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.  

  REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER  

STAFF AVAILABILITY  

  • Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period.  

  • Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff. 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook