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Unit of study_

AVBS3000: Professional Development

Semester 1, 2020 [Professional practice] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Students are required to undertake professional development in University vacations as an integral and essential part of their overall training in the degree of Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience. Students will complete 60 days of professional work experience throughout their program by the commencement of fourth year, including a minimum of 20 days spent on commercial animal production enterprises. Students will visit at least two different farming enterprises in the major and emerging animal production industries. The remaining 40 days will include at least one placement with an animal-related business or service provider, and experience in either a scientific research organisation or short scientific volunteer position. Students will undertake additional placements at relevant animal or animal-related businesses, farms or organisations as required to complete 60 days. A professional consultant-style report must be submitted after each placement. Seminars to promote awareness of career options and current issues in animal science will be provided on a regular basis by past graduates and other professionals working in the animal industries. Students are encouraged to attend as many of these as possible throughout their degree program, and are required to submit four case studies based on material presented in these seminars. Attendance at seminars is compulsory during third year. Students will also submit an essay on a current issue in the animal science area of their choice.

Unit details and rules

Unit code AVBS3000
Academic unit Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Sabrina Lomax, sabrina.lomax@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Sabrina Lomax, sabrina.lomax@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment PE reports
write a professional report based on each professional experience placement
65% Ongoing 4 reports
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Assignment Case study #1
answer questions related to seminar
5% Week 05 1 page
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Case study #3
answer questions related to seminar
5% Week 05 1 page
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Case study #2
answer questions related to seminar
5% Week 10 1 page
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Assignment Case study #4
answer questions related to seminar
5% Week 10 1 page
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Assignment Essay on current issues
Choose a current issue and critically review
15% Week 13 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5

Assessment summary

Task

Semester

Mark

Case Study #1

1

5%

Case Study #2

1

5%

Case Study #3

2

5%

Case Study #4

2

5%

Essay on Current Issues

1 or 2

15%

PE Reports

NA

65%

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

10% per day late

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Multiple weeks 1. Industry Guest seminars x 2 per semester. 2. Degree information sessions x 1 per semester Seminar (6 hr)  
Ongoing 60 days Industry placement across yr1-3 of the degree Placement (420 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Students are required to attend seminars (either organised in-class or online as webinars) from guest speakers (4 sessions across 2 semesters).  They will complete 5% case study assessments based on these seminars relevant to their career path.

Students must complete an essay on a key issue related to their career interest. This must be submitted in week 13 and comprises 15% of their final grade.

Students must complete 40 days of placement across 3 years of their degree.  Each placement (min 4) must include a consultant style report which is submitted in the semester following their placement. These reports comprise 65% of their final grade. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. have gained knowledge of the major and emerging animal industries first-hand
  • LO2. have gained experience in the production, development, finance, marketing, research and management of domestic, native and exotic animals and animal products across a range of environments and managerial systems
  • LO3. have gained an awareness of current issues associated with animal science in a global context
  • LO4. apply the range of interpersonal skills necessary to establish a professional rapport with clients, colleagues and academics
  • LO5. have developed particular interests that may inform your choice of career
  • LO6. have gained experience in CV writing and job interview techniques
  • LO7. write a professional consultant-style report.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the last year this unit will be run as it currently is designed. Taking on board student feedback regarding report length, and lack of engagement, we are redesigning the program to be more engaging and less heavy to reflect work load relevant to a 6cp UoS. Current changes include reducing placements from 60 to 40 days, and from 5 to 4 reports.

Additional costs

There may be some personal costs to the student for travel and accommodation to their placement sites.

Site visit guidelines

students must adhere to the code of conduct when visiting placement sites. Students must abide by photography and media sharing within the code.

Work, health and safety

Q-fever vaccination and completion of the Canvas module “Zoonosis Awareness” is compulsory.

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.