SCIENCE 7550 - Science International Study Tour (PG)

North Terrace Campus - Summer - 2017

This course consists of an intensive overseas study tour introducing science students to international culture and society and providing an opportunity to visit an overseas partner institution, participate in academic seminars and/or cultural activities. The course is designed to develop students? skills in observation, reflection, induction, and deduction on discipline-specific issues in an international context, develop graduates? knowledge of international affairs, and gain confidence to work in one of a range of international environments. The focus of the student?s intellectual attention will be her/his participation in a group activity influencing a scientific-related system and conducted outside of Australia. Students will learn to analyse intercultural experience critically and to develop their ability to communicate and empathise in an international context. As some of the tours are sponsored by specific industry bodies, they may want to be involved in the selection of students. In general, selection will be based on academic record, demonstrated ability to work well in groups and may include involvement in extracurricular activities and alignment to career aspirations.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code SCIENCE 7550
    Course Science International Study Tour (PG)
    Coordinating Unit Sciences General
    Term Summer
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 52 hours structured learning activities per week for 3 weeks
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Entry into the course is based on GPA, written application and interview
    Restrictions Students are required to have completed at least 12 units of study
    Course Description This course consists of an intensive overseas study tour introducing science students to international culture and society and providing an opportunity to visit an overseas partner institution, participate in academic seminars and/or cultural activities.
    The course is designed to develop students? skills in observation, reflection, induction, and deduction on discipline-specific issues in an international context, develop graduates? knowledge of international affairs, and gain confidence to work in one of a range of international environments.
    The focus of the student?s intellectual attention will be her/his participation in a group activity influencing a scientific-related system and conducted outside of Australia. Students will learn to analyse intercultural experience critically and to develop their ability to communicate and empathise in an international context.
    As some of the tours are sponsored by specific industry bodies, they may want to be involved in the selection of students. In general, selection will be based on academic record, demonstrated ability to work well in groups and may include involvement in extracurricular activities and alignment to career aspirations.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Wayne Pitchford

    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, a student will be able to:

    1 Critically investigate and identify the elements of a scientific-related system (e.g., the physical, chemical and/or biological characteristics and processes; driving mechanisms, methods of analysis; implementation; management).
    2

    Analyse current scientific practices and suggest alternative methods of analysis, experimental design, and/or management/implementation.

    3 Identify and reflect on the cultural and social context of scientific-related systems in different countries.
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1,2
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1,2
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    3
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    Students will be required to undertake compulsory pre-departure activities and assessment, such as completion of online interactive material, or analysis of scenarios or case studies. Students will negotiate a suitable assessment task to be submitted after their international experience as well as giving a group presentation and reflecting on their own experiences and experiences of other participants.

    Where practical, the assessment should include recommendations or some outcome for addressing issues they encounter during their experience that would be of benefit to the host community

    Workload

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

    A student enrolled in an intensive, 3 week, 3 unit course such as this should expect to spend, on average, 52 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required for the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    1. Pre placement Preparation = Students learn about the context of the forthcoming field experience and about the development of skills in observation, reflection, investigating appropriate academic literature and inductive and deductive thinking as well as working in groups;
    2. Experiences: students participate in a real field project and in so doing practice and apply their skills in observation, reflection, and inductive and deductive thinking. Assessment through field record book, reflective diary or equivalent and participation in activities (e.g. initiative shown, questions asked);
    3. Professional assessment: students integrate their observations and thoughts with the academic literature and a record of their experience which also includes outcome based recommendations.
    Specific Course Requirements

    The course requires each student to gain acceptance into a project involving a field experience outside of Australia.

    Acceptance into the course will be determined by GPA, a written application and an interview and may be determined by parameters set by funding bodies or by the laws of the destination country. Availability of any particular program, or the course, in any particular year cannot be assured in advance. As students are ambassadors for Australia and for The University of Adelaide, a cumulative GPA of 4.00 at the end of the penultimate semester prior to departure is a course pre-requisite.

    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The international experience will be undertaken in small groups. Where practical, students will reflect on their experience in small groups and give presentations to other participants, either face to face or in an online environment, as well as debriefing during the tour. In addition, for most tours the pre-departure assessment will be conducted in groups.
  • 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 Task Type Weighting Hurdle Yes/No
    Outcomes being assessed/addressed Approximate Timing of Assessment
    Pre departure assessment (most done in groups) Formative & Summative 30% No 1,2 Weeks
    prior to commencing international experience.
    Professional experience Assessment task
    (reflective diary, field book or equivalent)
    Formative & Summative 40% No 1,2

    Within
    3 weeks of  completion of the experience

    Post experience reflection task Formative & Summative 30% No 1,2,3

    Within
    3 weeks of  completion of the experience
    Assessment Detail

    Pre experience case studies and activities (30%): This will be developed as appropriate for the experience and could include case studies.

    Students would be required to assess and understand social and cultural context of those case studies. This activity will be conducted in small groups and the aim will be to get more out of the off-shore experience by having worked on some issues beforehand.

     Professional experience Assessment task (40%)

    The primary assessment task during the international experience is a reflective diary or field book to be completed during the tour. This would be approximately 2000 words and will also include a synthesis and summary of up to 400 words.

     Post experience presentation and group reflection (30%)

    Students will choose a topic they wish to research further, seek approval from the tour coordinator and then write an essay or literature review on the topic. Students would be required to consider the social and cultural context of the topic (approximately 2000 words).

     Students are encouraged to present and share their experience to other course participants in face to face presentation or using an online forum – eg blog or videoed presentation.

    Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.
    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.