Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This course aims to provide final year students with the opportunity to apply conceptual knowledge to the real world via a professional placement. As such, this course strongly links discipline learnings, personal employability skills and attributes developed by students across the duration of their studies with the challenges and expectations of working in industry. In doing so, students have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their chosen profession and to connect this experience to the development of a workplace ready skill-set. Successful completion of the course will provide students with the employability skills required for transition to the world of work. Further information about how to apply for RBUS7999 can be found on the BEL Faculty's work-integrated learning website.
RBUS7999 is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) course that provides students with the opportunity to apply their conceptual knowledge to the real world via a professional placement or industry project. The placement allows you to integrate your theoretical and conceptual knowledge with the skills and problem-solving techniques required in the workplace. As such, the course is particularly focused on enabling you to develop your employability skills, gain knowledge, understand the attitudes of business professionals, grow your professional network, and engage with real world business issues.
In this course you will:
- Reflect on the skills and qualities that enhance your employability;
- Demonstrate how you can use and apply your knowledge, skills and abilities;
- Identify your areas for development and develop an action plan for professional growth;
- Learn to articulate your knowledge, skills and abilities related to your employability;
- Develop your professional identity and personal value proposition;
- Reflect on and develop understanding of real-world business practices, processes and challenges.
Placement/Internshipﾠrequirements
You will need to undertake an industry work placement (internship) of 80 to 120 hours throughout (or before) the semester.ﾠYou should find your own work placement in a functional area of management practice in an organisation that is willing to host you and provide meaningful project work to further develop your skills and abilities.ﾠAs an example, you might choose to complete your internship in one block of 3 or 4 weeks full-time,ﾠ3 days a week over 4-5 weeks, orﾠ2 days a week over 7-8 weeks.ﾠCompleting one day a week of your internship hours isﾠnotﾠrecommended as experience has shown the likelihood of you being given realistic work tasks and/or being included in the work team is significantly reduced.ﾠIt is your responsibility toﾠnegotiate your working hours with your industry host, as well as manage your time effectively to attend all the scheduled learning activitiesﾠthroughout the semester.ﾠSupport is available from the BEL FacultyﾠEmployability Team to help you source an appropriate host organisation.
The course is offered four times a year to make alignment with your internship dates possible.
- Semester 1
- Teaching Period 5 (Inter-Semester Break)
- Semester 2
- Summer Semester
Your internship commencement date should be within 4 months of the start date of the semester in which you are eligible to complete your WIL course. If your internship commencement date is outside of this time period, you may be advised to source a new internship for your WIL course.
NOTE: Before you commence your internship, it is important you first refer to the BEL Work-integrated Learning (WIL) website to familiarise yourself with the process of having your internship approved before it can be considered suitable for course credit. Access the website using this Link.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
GPA of 4.0 or higher. Approval required from Head of School via Business School Postgraduate Student Liaison Team.
Restrictions
Restricted to students in the final year of the MBus, MCom, MEI and MTHEM programs.
Course contact
Course staff
Course coordinator
Dr Willem Janse Van Rensburg
Lecturer
Dr Willem Janse Van Rensburg
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course will share teaching activities with RBUS3999 and RBUS4999.
As you will be in the placement organisation for 80 to 120 hours there is limited seminar or lecture involvement. Five seminars are provided, typically after normal office hours, to assist students through the Course.
Due dates for assessment items will be published on Blackboard.
You must check your university email inbox for announcements about RBUS3999/RBUS4999/RBUS7999, updates and additional information throughout the semester.
Please note: Should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, emailﾠbusiness.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full name,
- Student ID, and
- the Course Code
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide students with the opportunity to apply conceptual knowledge to the real world via a professional placement. As such, this course strongly links discipline learnings, personal employability skills and attributes developed by students across the duration of their studies with the challenges and expectations of working in industry. In doing so, students have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their chosen profession and, importantly, to connect this experience to the development of an employability workplace-ready skill-set.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
A1. Graduate attributes quiz
|
10% |
12/08/2025 - 26/08/2025 |
| Performance, Product/ Design |
A2. Professional Identity and Value proposition
|
20% |
A2.1 LinkedIn profile 29/08/2025 5:00 pm A2.2 Video pitch 26/09/2025 5:00 pm |
| Reflection |
A3. Workplace reflection
|
30% |
A3.1 Journal entry 2/09/2025 5:00 pm A3.2 Viva voce 21/10/2025 9:00 pm
Students will schedule their A3.2 viva voce discussion with the lecturer in the weekly seminar timeslot from Week 6 to Week 12. |
| Essay/ Critique |
A4. Professional development plan
|
40% |
A4.1 2x forms submit 24/10/2025 5:00 pm A4.2 PDP 31/10/2025 5:00 pm |
Assessment details
A1. Graduate attributes quiz
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
12/08/2025 - 26/08/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L07
Task description
In this assessment students will complete a multi-choice quiz that tests their awareness of the UQ Graduate Attributes and how they might be applied to an employability skillset.
Awareness of and understanding the UQ Graduate Attributes framework complements the subsequent assessments in the following ways:
· It provides an additional standard against which students can evaluate their existing skillset.
· It helps students understand how even high level (broad) attributes can add value in work settings.
· It helps students to identify development areas.
· It helps students build a nuanced career narrative.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
A2. Professional Identity and Value proposition
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Performance, Product/ Design
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
A2.1 LinkedIn profile 29/08/2025 5:00 pm
A2.2 Video pitch 26/09/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03
Task description
In this assessment, students will demonstrate their ability to define their professional identity and effectively communicate their personal brand and value proposition, in writing as well as orally. They will create a compelling LinkedIn profile, engage with professionally relevant content online, and produce a short video that highlights their unique qualities, personal brand, and professional value. Together, the LinkedIn profile, online engagement, and video will convey who they are as emerging professionals and showcase what they can offer to potential employers or business contacts.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
A3. Workplace reflection
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
A3.1 Journal entry 2/09/2025 5:00 pm
A3.2 Viva voce 21/10/2025 9:00 pm
Students will schedule their A3.2 viva voce discussion with the lecturer in the weekly seminar timeslot from Week 6 to Week 12.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
In this assessment, students will showcase their reflective skills by analysing and reflecting on the business/organisation they observed and engaged with during their placement. Students will critically reflect on the practices, processes, structures and/or people dynamics of the business or organisation they worked in. Their observations will lead them to develop a foundational understanding of how businesses operate, their managerial decision-making, and how they respond to wider industry/economic forces.
Students will compile a journal reflection focusing on an aspect of the business they operated in. The journal reflection will incorporate thoughts on concepts/theories that deepen their understanding if their focus area.
The journal reflection will form the basis for an individual viva voce with the lecturer, during which students will orally respond to questions about their placement experience and demonstrate conceptual/theoretical understanding of their observations.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
A4. Professional development plan
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
A4.1 2x forms submit 24/10/2025 5:00 pm
A4.2 PDP 31/10/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L07
Task description
In this assessment, students are required to write a comprehensive and self-reflective Professional Development Plan. Students will evaluate their employability in the context of:
- self-evaluation of their placement performance,
- feedback they receive from supervisors/mentors/colleagues,
- various self-test instruments,
- research into job/industry requirements and trends, as well as
- UQ’s graduate attributes.
Specific areas for improvement (development areas) will be identified, and a clear action plan to achieve the identified development goals will be developed. The assessment concludes with a strategic perspective of the student's professional identity and long-term career aspirations. They will strategically consider career pathways that align with their goals for both personal and professional growth.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Please note that past central exam papers mentioned above in section 3.3 is irrelevant sinceﾠRBUS7999 does not have examinations.
Please see section 5 for assessment details.
Recommended Resources:
The independent learning approach used this course will require students to develop their own reading schedules that use theories and/or concepts that will be relevant in their assessment tasks.ﾠNumerous readings are provided on the Blackboard site.ﾠ
Learn (Blackboard)
All courses are supported by the UQ Learning Management System, Blackboard Learn, which provides an interactive environment for the students and teachers. This is accessible via PC or Mac or Mobile (Apps) environment.
To log on to Blackboard, go to https://learn.uq.edu.au.
- As Blackboard is a web‐based application, you will need a recently‐released browser for your computer. For the latest Release Notes for Bb Student, see http://en-gb.help.blackboard.com/Bb_Student/z_Release_Notes_Bb_Student.
- For help with Learn.UQ (Blackboard), see https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-blackboard-contacts or contact AskUs https://web.library.uq.edu.au/contact-us or telephone 334 64312.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Seminar |
Industry placement with a host organisation 80-120 hours placement with an industry host. The placement will give you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and to connect this experience to the development of a workplace ready skill set. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Week 1 |
Seminar |
Seminar 1: Introduction to the Course and the concept of employability The seminar will include:
Learning outcomes: L01, L07 |
Week 2 |
Seminar |
Seminar 2: Becoming a reflective practitioner During this seminar we will:
Learning outcomes: L03, L07 |
Week 3 |
Seminar |
Seminar 3: My professional online identity During this seminar we will discuss:
Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L07 |
Week 4 |
Seminar |
Seminar 4: Communicating my professional identity and value proposition During this seminar we will discuss: · The components of your personal narrative and value proposition · Ways to communicate your story · The elements of an ‘elevator pitch’ Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L07 |
Week 5 |
Seminar |
Seminar 5: Professional development plan During this seminar we will discuss:
Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L07 |
Multiple weeks From Week 6 To Week 12 |
Seminar |
In-person consultations with the lecturer Students will schedule an in-person consultation with the lecturer for the purpose of the A3.2 viva voce. The consultations will occur in the weekly seminar timeslot from Week 6 to Week 12. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.