AGRIC 3500WT - Professional Skills in Agricultural Science III

Waite Campus - Semester 2 - 2023

The Professional Skills III course has two equally-weighted components:1] Communication theory and skills, and 2] Professional Internship. Communication theory and skills is coursework undertaken in the first half of Semester 2, in Year 3. Students learn: how to design training and extension events using action learning processes and adult learning principles; how to design complex communication and evaluation programs; how to resolve conflict and negotiate in the workplace and business. They will also receive training in career planning, applying for jobs and interview technique. The Professional Internship is a period of 12 weeks employment engaged from mid-year of Year 2 until end of Semester 2 of Year 3. Work can be conducted in areas that are related to agricultural science, including research, agribusiness, agricultural production (including farm experience) and related industries such as food processing, veterinary, livestock, wildlife and natural resource management. By completing the internship students will achieve the following outcomes: - Apply knowledge gained in the undergraduate program to a professional working environment - Develop a deeper understanding of work in areas of professional agricultural or animal science practice - Develop a professional approach and attitude to work - Enhance their ability to synthesise information and present it in written reports

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Course Details

Course Code	AGRIC 3500WT
Course	Professional Skills in Agricultural Science III
Coordinating Unit	School of Agriculture, Food and Wine
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	Waite Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 5 hours per week for the first 6 weeks of Semester
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	AGRIC 1510WT, AGRIC 1520WT or ANIML SC 1015RW
Assessment	Assignments, major project, job interview, reports, employer assessment

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Mr Ben Pike

Course Timetable

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

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1	Demonstrate communication skills appropriate for a range of professional settings
2	Apply critical thinking and problem solving skills to real worl scenarios
3	Exaplain models of leadership and teamwork in an agricultural context
4	Demonstrate project management skills for agricultural projects
5	Recognise ethical and sustainability issues in the agricultural sector

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 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1, 2 & 5
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.	1, 2, 4 & 5
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, 2, 3 & 4
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.	3 & 5
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.	4 & 5
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.	4 & 5

Learning Resources

Recommended Resources

The following texts are good background for the Program Planning assignment

From library:
• C. Leeuwis 2004 “Communication for rural innovation: rethinking agricultural extension”
• A.W. van den Ban & H.S. Hawkins 1996. “Agricultural Extension”
• N. G. Roling 1988 “Extension Science: information systems in agricultural development’

Online Learning

MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Workload

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

Learning Activities Summary

No information currently available.

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

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

Assessment Summary

Description and Assessment	Submission due	Marks	Hurdle	Learning Outcome assessed
Convince Me Video	week 3	20	No	1,3,5,7
Conflict Resolution Video	week 6	10	No	2,3,
Extension Plan Part 1 Part 2 Part 3	week 3 week 5 week 6	25	No	1,3,4,5,8
Job application and interview:	week 5	10	No	2,9
Intern Reports	week 12	35	No	10
TOTAL		100

Assessment Detail

Convince Me video (20%)
Students pick a topic of significance to agricultural science, policy or practice and present either a 6 minute Oral Presentation or a 5 minute video to convince the audience of their view.

Conflict Resolution (10%)
You tube video of how a manager will handle the situation of conflict in the workplace.

Extension Plan (25%)
A professional document that integrates communication theory into practice by providing a plan to implement a major communication and development project.
Part 1 (5%)
Extension plan core framework
Part 2 (10%)
Planning the details
Part 3 (10%)
Extension Workshop

Job application and interview (10%)
You will write an application letter and CV for an actual job that is currently on the market. You will undergo a mock, but formal, interview. Both items assessed by criteria discussed in class.
Application letter and CV (5%)
Job interview 15-20 minutes (5%))

Intern Reports (35%)
The number of reports depends on the number of different periods of work experience. The first report should be submitted as early as possible in semester so that feedback can be given. All reports must be submitted by end of the semester.

Submission

It is a university-wide policy that assignments must be submitted by their deadline. There will be a penalty of 10% of the total mark for each day (or part of a day) that an assignment is late, up to a maximum penalty of 50% of the total mark. Assignments that are submitted after the assignments for the rest of the class have been marked may not be accepted.

Extensions of deadlines may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a replacement examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Extensions of deadlines should be negotiated with the course coordinator before the assignment is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor time management.

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
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator