MATHS 3025 - Professional Practice III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

Students need to learn how to operate effectively in a professional environment in order to be successful in their careers. This course is composed of two main components: finding and winning your next job; and achieving success in the workplace. More specifically, the first component will cover opportunity awareness, how to develop your personal brand and how to succeed in the selection processes. The second component will cover professional ethics, teamwork, meeting behaviours, self-awareness and awareness of others, relationship building, persuasion, and oral and written communication - both formal and informal, including social media.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MATHS 3025
    Course Professional Practice III
    Coordinating Unit Mathematical Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites COMP SCI 1102, COMP SCI 2009, MATHS 1004 or MATHS 1012
    Incompatible MATHS 3015, PROF 3883
    Restrictions Not available to BSc or BTeach students, or to students in double degrees combined with the BSc or BTeach.
    Course Description Students need to learn how to operate effectively in a professional environment in order to be successful in their careers. This course is composed of two main components: finding and winning your next job; and achieving success in the workplace. More specifically, the first component will cover opportunity awareness, how to develop your personal brand and how to succeed in the selection processes. The second component will cover professional ethics, teamwork, meeting behaviours, self-awareness and awareness of others, relationship building, persuasion, and oral and written communication - both formal and informal, including social media.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Tyler Key

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1. demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills

    2. apply these skills at all stages of application for employment

    3. understand the importance of good communication in a professional environment, as well as differences in communication and personality styles

    4. understand the importance of teamwork in a professional environment

    5. understand the function of meetings and participate effectively in them

    6. work effectively in a team to analyse and solve practical problems

    7. understand a business context, and use this to help an organisation achieve its strategic aims
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    6

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1, 3, 4, 5, 6

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    3, 7

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    None
    Recommended Resources
    None
    Online Learning
    All necessary learning resources will be made available in MyUni.

    Link to MyUni login page:
    https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The goal of this course is for the students to develop practical skills. Background information will be provided in lectures, and is then put into practice in workshops. Workshop activities and assignments are as close as possible to tasks you'd to to apply for a job or in the workplace. In the second half of the course, most workshop activities and assessments are related to a team project. Outside lectures and workshops, students are expected to prepare for lectures and workshops, to work on practical assessment exercises, to provide feedback on other students' work, and to work on the team project.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Activity Number Work load (hours)
    Lectures 12 12
    Workshops 12 24
    Preparation for lectures and workshops 12 36
    Assessment activities 9 42
    Team project 1 42
    Total 156
    Learning Activities Summary
    Lectures:

    1. Introduction and personal branding
    2. CVs and cover letters
    3. Sourcing graduate jobs
    4. Interviews (guest lecture)
    5. Technical inteview questions (guest lecture)
    6. Employer Q&A session
    7. Decision making (guest lecture) 
    8. Emotional intelligence; personality types; team work and meetings; project work
    9. Presentations
    10. Business report writing (guest lecture)
    11. Feedback
    12. Ethics

    Workshops:

    1. Personal branding
    2. CVs and cover letters 
    3. LinkedIn
    4. Interviews
    5. Group work assessments
    6. Employer pitch
    7. Personality types and communication
    8. Start of group project
    9. Presentations
    10. Reports
    11. Team project presentations
    12. Team project presentations
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment task Weighting Learning outcomes assessed Week
    Active tutorial participation 10% 1-7 1-12
    Indigenous Perspective Module Compulsory 1,3 1-4
    Resume 10% 1,2 4
    Cover letter 10% 1,2 4
    Online Application Interview 20% 1,2 6
    Team Project & Presentation 30% 1,3,4,6,7 8-12
    Team Project Report 20% 1,3,4,6,7 14

    Indegenous Perspectives Module is compulsory to complete this course.







    Assessment Related Requirements
    An aggregate score of 50% is required to pass the course.
    Assessment Detail
    Active Tutorial Participation
    Weighting: 10%
    Learning Outcomes Assessed: 1-7
    Week: 1-12
    Description: Students are required to actively participate in tutorial sessions, demonstrating punctuality, preparation, respectful interaction, and engagement with course materials and peers. The goal is to foster a positive learning environment and develop essential professional skills.

    Indigenous Perspective Module
    Compulsory
    Learning Outcomes Assessed: 1, 3
    Week: 1-4
    Description: This module is mandatory and aims to increase students' understanding of Indigenous perspectives and experiences, enhancing their intercultural competency and communication skills in diverse workplaces.

    Resume
    Weighting: 10%
    Learning Outcomes Assessed: 1, 2
    Week: 4
    Description: Students are tasked with crafting a professional resume tailored to a specific position, utilising credible sources and aligning their skills and experiences with the requirements of the chosen role.

    Cover Letter
    Weighting: 10%
    Learning Outcomes Assessed: 1, 2
    Week: 4
    Description: This assessment requires students to write a professional cover letter tailored to the same position as their resume. The cover letter should complement the resume and effectively communicate the candidate's suitability for the role.

    Online Application Interview
    Weighting: 20%
    Learning Outcomes Assessed: 1, 2
    Week: 6
    Description: Students simulate an online job interview using a designated platform, responding to four interview questions. The assessment evaluates students' ability to effectively communicate and showcase their skills and suitability for the position.

    Team Project & Presentation
    Weighting: 30%
    Learning Outcomes Assessed: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7
    Week: 8-12
    Description: This assessment involves working collaboratively in teams to develop and present a project addressing a real-world challenge. Students are evaluated on their research, analysis, presentation skills, and ability to propose innovative solutions.

    Team Project Report
    Weighting: 20%
    Learning Outcomes Assessed: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7
    Week: 14
    Description: In this assessment, teams submit a formal report detailing their project findings, analysis, recommendations, and solutions. The report format follows industry standards and requires adherence to specific structural guidelines.
    Submission
    The personal statement, CV, cover letter, video interview, email and final report must all be submitted electronically.

    Precise deadlines for each assessment task will be announced in MyUni. Late submissions will not be accepted.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.