University of Technology Sydney

26792 Field Study Immersion

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 26800 Global Business Practice

Note

Enrolment in the subject requires attendance at a pre-enrolment information session and approval by the subject coordinator. To register your interest, please send an email to: business.mba@uts.edu.au.

The enrolment period is between Mar-May each calendar year.

Description

This subject provides an in-depth collaborative and practical learning experience for students in the form of a field trip of approximately two-week duration. The field trip includes both industry and cultural visits, and classes delivered by a partner university. The location, timing and travel duration vary year-to-year depending on the university partner facilitating the study tour. The location is generally overseas, although in some years may be scheduled in Australia. Further to field trip duration students are expected to engage with workshops at UTS scheduled before and after the study tour, and associated assessment task completion post-field trip.

The subject provides students with an understanding of business realities in the current environment through exposure to business practice. The subject allows students to reflect on the implementation of contemporary business practice on concepts and theories they are learning in the MBA program. The subject integrates the analytical skills required for effective business decision-making with the skills necessary for successful strategy implementation. As this subject involves a field trip, it entails additional costs for students in the form of transit and accommodation costs.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. Reflect on learning from an immersive experience
2. Discuss the contemporary environment in selected business sectors
3. Analyse the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses in a global economy
4. Propose strategies in a specific business discipline to deal with challenges and opportunities

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:

  • Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
  • Professional and technical competence

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is largely experiential in its approach. Most of student time is spent on a study tour where they reinforce their learning through a reflective approach. Location guidance is led by a university partner and practitioners, which helps focus the learning.

This experience is supplemented by compulsory interactive classes that may be delivered at UTS and university partner premises in the study tour location. Such classes typically involve instructive seminars, interactive activities, student presentations and group work. Students who do not attend classes will not meet the requirements to pass the subject. If a student misses before-departure class(es) at UTS, they will not be permitted to travel on the study tour. Before-departure classes provide important information on travel guidelines for each student’s safety and well-being, subject expectations, and preparation and commencement of subject exercises and assessment.

Students are further supported by subject material and information provided online to help them prepare for the workshops and field study.

Students receive in-class feedback from instructors and peers.

Content (topics)

  • Follow a program focused on business exposure in a selected region
  • Engage in workshops, lectures and conversations with a university partner and business representatives in the region visited
  • Analyse the contemporary business realities in the selected region
  • Pre and post-travel reflection and analysis of the immersive business experience

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Contemporary business assessment (Individual)

Intent:

Component A (30%)
Component B (40%)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2, 3 and 4

Weight: 70%
Length:

3000 words

Criteria:

Component A:

  • Depth of reflection on the study tour experience
  • Depth of consideration on future applications of the experience

Component B:

  • Detailed description of a contemporary issue in the international business environment
  • Critical evaluation of contemporary issue implications on business

Assessment task 2: Learning portfolio (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

2, 3 and 4

Weight: 30%
Criteria:
  • Constructive contributions to discussions and/or debates
  • Knowledge demonstrated through completion of individual and group exercises
  • Written assignment quality

It should be noted that a partner institution determining grades for assessment task 2 will have external accreditation equivalent to or exceeding that of the UTS Business School (AASCB).

Minimum requirements

Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks. All scheduled classes and study tour components are compulsory to attend to pass the subject.

Required texts

Materials will be provided on the learning management system.

References

Materials will be provided on the subject learning management system.