Students

MQBS8090 – Business Internship

2025 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Brett White
brett.white@mq.edu.au
Contact via by email
by appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit gives students workplace experience and professional development skills to position them to better succeed in securing employment and manage their future careers. Students undertake a placement in an organisation under the guidance of a workplace mentor/supervisor and with the support of professional and academic University staff. The unit links the workplace experience to academic theory and research to maximise the benefits of both. Assessment tasks are integrated with a range of individual and interactive learning activities. Students will gain experience of the Australian workplace environment and the ability to self-manage future professional development of generic skills and specialist knowledge. The unit contributes to the development of graduate capabilities in critical, analytical and integrative thinking and professional and personal judgement and initiative.  Visit Employability Connect for important information on this unit.

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: Develop professional skills in the workplace.
  • ULO2: Manage personal contribution to an organisation.
  • ULO3: Evaluate the application of academic learning in the workplace.
  • ULO4: Manage professional learning through reflective practice and the application of research.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments)

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 grade of ‘0’ 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 concern.

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Skills Development: Reflection on Professional Learning 30% No Week 12 or at end of internship
Skills Development: Professional Learning Portfolio 40% No Week 12
Professional Practice: Internship Learning Roadmap 30% No Week 4 or 4 weeks after internship start date

Skills Development: Reflection on Professional Learning

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 12 or at end of internship
Weighting: 30%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to evaluate your progress by critically reflecting on the learning objectives set in your Learning Contract.   Skills in focus:  

  • Work Readiness
  • Communication and Collaboration
  • Critical thinking

  Deliverable: Evaluation and reflection form in iParticiapte [max word count 1,500]. This task includes your supervisor's evaluation (10%) and a written critical reflection (20%). Individual Assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop professional skills in the workplace.
  • Evaluate the application of academic learning in the workplace.
  • Manage professional learning through reflective practice and the application of research.

Skills Development: Professional Learning Portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 40%

 

The purpose of this assessment is to reflect on your development across key capability skills. You will produce a professional learning portfolio which present evidence of your work, and where you critically reflect on how your skills have grown, all in a clear, well-referenced, and visually engaging format that meets professional standards.   Skills in focus:  

  • Critical Thinking
  • Communication and Collaboration
  • Work Readiness

  Deliverable: Learning portfolio presented in the form of a slide deck including six slides [max 300 words each] Individual Assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Manage personal contribution to an organisation.

Professional Practice: Internship Learning Roadmap

Assessment Type 1: Work-integrated task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 4 or 4 weeks after internship start date
Weighting: 30%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your ability to plan and take ownership of your professional development by developing a learning roadmap for your internship.   Skills in focus:  

  • Collaboration and communication
  • Work readiness

  Deliverable: Individual Written Form completed in iParticipate [max: 1,000 words] Individual Assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop professional skills in the workplace.

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

Your learning experience in this unit is through your internship. There will be resources on iLearn and a recommended reading schedule to support you in your portfolio of work and in achieving goals in your internship. 

There are no formal classes as this unit is on the successful completion of your internship experience so you can gain beneficial employability skills. 

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 2025.04 of the Handbook