Please refer to the Macquarie University Policies and Procedures, specially with respect to submission of assignments, academic honesty policy,  extensions and late submissions.

Objective of the unit

  This unit provides students the opportunity for an industry-based internship for observing real-word innovation in practice or a research internship for first-hand experience of world-leading research. The internship integrates practical experience and learning for postgraduate students within a business or organization. All students will be required to engage in at least one substantial piece of self-reflective evaluation and one major analytical project. The placement will allow students to explore relevant issues internal to the organization such as its goals, target identification, project management, to take cutting-edge ideas in scientific disciplines from conception through development to realisation. Students will be considered for enrolment into this unit after the successful completion of the other core units.

Process

Students are encouraged to choose and make contact with their own preferred internship provider. Once contact has been made, a referral latter can be requested to be sent to the host organization.

Students are requested to discuss the details and nature of the activity with the host organisation and compete and activity PROPOSAL form. This proposal wil be assessed by the convener and sent for amendment or approval. If approved, the host organisation will be sent an ACTIVITY STATEMENT to sign and approve.

Once the activity statement is approved by the host organisation, a CONFIRMATION letter will be sent to both student and host organisation and the activity can proceed.

Requirements

Students are required to:

• Complete any appropriate health checks, vaccinations and any other clearances deemed necessary by the partner organisation;
• Take all necessary precautions to ensure their own health, safety and welfare, as well as the health, safety and welfare of others;
• Abide by and cooperate with the partner organisation with respect to all rules, requirements, and procedures of the partner, including those dealing with Work, Health and Safety requirements; emergency procedures; harassment, bullying and anti-discrimination policies; child protection policies and laws; dress standards; confidentiality and privacy requirements; internet policies and ethical guidelines;
• Complete the required time commitment, assessment tasks and all other requirements of the activity and unit;
• Treat all staff and peers with courtesy and respect and treat everyone equitably, irrespective of gender, race, disability, cultural background, religion, age, political conviction, age, sexual orientation or medical condition;
• Behave in a way which protects the reputation and good name of the University;
• Ask for and accept feedback and advice about their work;
• Advise the host supervisor and the Unit Convenor if they cannot attend work or participate in the activity due to sickness or other personal circumstances at the earliest possible time;
• Negotiate in good faith with the partner organisation and enter into a separate agreement with them relating to Intellectual Property rights ownership;
• Keep private any information learnt about the workplace, its clients or employees in accordance with the partner organisation’s confidentiality policy.
• Acknowledge that any personal information that may be collected in the course of the activity is protected by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW), the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW).
• Not present themselves as a representative of the partner organisation in any form of media or communication without prior written permission from the partner organisation. The student must also seek approval from the partner organisation about message content in all such communications.

Unit Web Page

The web page for this unit is at Macquarie's new learning management system website: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Login and follow prompts to FOSC 806.

You are expected to access the unit web site frequently (i.e., almost daily). This site contains important information including submissions (that you will be expected to access in class) and assignments. 

Logging In: Type in the URL http://ilearn.mq.edu.au and find FOSC804. Your username is your Macquarie Student ID Number (MQID), which is an 8 digit number found on your student card. The password is your myMQ Student Portal password. This will be the original MQID password (2 random characters followed by your date of birth in ddmmyy format) that was sent to you on enrolment, unless you have already changed your password in the myMQ Student Portal. If you experience difficulties in getting your reprint or your password, please contact the StudentIT Desk (ph: 9850 6500).

Teaching and Learning Strategy

FOSC806 is a 16-credit point half-year unit

The internship program runs through session one from February to June or session two, from July to December. The placement requirements are for three days a week for 12 weeks (270 hours), full time equivalent, however, work arrangements can be flexible to suit the student and could for example, be two days a week over 18 weeks.

Monday to Friday is typically spent at the workplace.

Student must complete weekly report on Ilearn. Students will also schedule a monthly meeting (over the phone) with the unit convener. 

There is no final examination but you are expected to submit an Internship report.

There is only one hurdle in this unit, which is the submission of the work diary. Failure to cross this hurdle will result in a fail.

Students will be required to submit an activity proposal form at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the semester to allow processing.