University of Technology Sydney

99025 Global Work Project

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 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: International Studies: International Studies and Global Societies
Credit points: 16 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Description

This subject allows students to undertake a substantial work placement in an organisation with international connections, and in a discipline and employment area related to either their Bachelor of International Studies degree and/or professional degree. Students independently undertake small-scale research about, or in other words investigate, an aspect about workplace culture in the organisation or sector in which they will undertake their placement. This might include issues such as cultural difference, intercultural communication, cultural systems, cultural hegemonies, cultural change and the like. Drawing on experiential learning and theory-informed critique, skills to be developed include: researching cultural phenomena as they manifest in professional practice, building research-informed arguments, reflecting critically on practice and work organisations, communicating and learning online, and presenting small-scale research findings.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a. Deploying various methods of inquiry, independently undertake small-scale research about cultural phenomena.
b. Synthesise understandings from the Bachelor of International Studies, in the combined professional degree and workplace experience to generate arguments about intercultural communication, cultural difference, cultural systems and norms, and cultural change.
c. Draw connections between everyday work phenomena, global processes, and theories in International Studies to develop arguments and rationales.
d. Reflect critically on workplace cultures, learning and careers.
e. Prepare and deliver oral, visual and written communications that are clear, coherent and suitable for the particular professional environment.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (INT = International Studies CILOs):

  • Evaluate critically theoretical and specialised knowledge of contemporary societies, cultures and workplaces. (INT.2.1)
  • Analyse, generate and communicate creative solutions to work-related problems within professional and everyday settings across diverse cultures in Australia and internationally. (INT.2.2)
  • Understand and engage with cultural diversities in Australia and/or internationally. (INT.3.1)
  • Engage critically with current issues to act in socially responsible ways in Australian and international settings. (INT.5.1)
  • Communicate clearly and effectively in written and spoken language using diverse digital technologies. (INT.6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

The main learning activities in this subject are the experience of work, reflection on that experience; and independent research on the complex cultures of professional settings and field of practice. There will be preparatory workshops focused on an introductory briefing on internship requirements and internship search strategies prior to the teaching session commencing and continued once session starts with workshops on goal setting for professional development and applying research methods for workplace observations. Once on their internships, students will complete asynchronous self-paced online modules that draw on relevant cultural and sociological theory to provide theoretical scaffolding around their workplace/industry observations. Students will also engage in online group discussions. De-briefs with the subject coordinator occur towards the end of the internship where students will reflect on their professional development. In order to maximise flexibility and to enable students to undertake their work placements when and where best suited to their interests, internships will be self-sourced and this subject will be offered fully online. Students will be provided academic support including advice during the placement, provision of academic resources on reflective learning, research skills, international studies and work-in-progress online discussions. The placement will be of no less than 100 hours and students will prepare assessments which help them critically evaluate their work and learning experiences in relation to the themes from International Studies.

Content (topics)

The central topic for the subject is the cultural aspect of work in the organisation / industry in which the student is undertaking an internship. Typical workplace cultural issues include intercultural communication, cultural difference, cultural systems and norms, and cultural change. The briefing and de-briefing workshops will include content about reflective practice, workplace learning and organisational research methods, especially organisational ethnography; and the ethics of undertaking research interviews and doing organisational ethnography. It should be noted that while students are supported to undertake a capstone project, they must be careful that research – for example, interviewing – is ethically undertaken.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Work Observation Protocol

Objective(s):

a, b, c, d and e

Weight: 40%
Length:

1,200 words (add the length of hurdle tasks when considering the 40% weighting)
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Identification of relevant methods of enquiry and ethical dimensions for undertaking observation in placement organisation 30 a INT.2.1
Critical use of relevant readings to justify the use of methods of enquiry in placement organisation 30 a INT.2.2
Identification of how the placement opportunity is intended to generate learning on workplace-cultural topics 30 b, c, d INT.3.1
Clarity and coherence of Workplace Observation Plan and relevance to the research question 10 e INT.6.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Individual Work Experience Analysis: Culture in the World of Work

Objective(s):

b, c, d and e

Weight: 60%
Length:

3,000 words (not including references)

Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Comprehensive summary, critical analysis and authentic reflections on the work placement experience 30 d INT.3.1
Critical insights (including strengths and weaknesses) of the theory and practice of ethnographic research 30 b, c INT.2.2
Critical analysis of cultural phenomena and intercultural communication in the workplace, backed up by relevant readings 30 d INT.5.1
Coherence of analysis and clarity of expression 10 e INT.6.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Minimum requirement assessment tasks

Objective(s):

c, d and e

Weight: Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark
Length:

1,000 words for part 1

15 minute verbal de-brief for part 2

100hrs internship for part 3
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Learning Plan
Suitability of the learning goals identified, justified by an authentic self-assessment of development needs d INT.3.1
Critical integration of work-integrated learning theories learnt in the in-class workshop and subject readings c INT.3.1
Clarity, coherence and professionalism of written and oral expression in Learning Plan presentation e INT.5.1
Internship De-Brief
Timely correspondence with Subject Coordinator e INT.6.1
Critical reflection on skills development d INT.2.2
Confirmed attendance from internship supervisor c INT.5.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

It is a requirement of this subject that students complete a Learning Plan; participate in an Internship De-Brief of 15 minutes; and undertake 100 hours of internship work by Week 12, confirmed by the internship host. Students who do not complete these task components will receive a Fail X grade.

Required texts

This subject draws on a wide array of academic literature and digital media reports. Relevant chapters and other essential readings will be indicated for corresponding weeks and listed in the weekly program in the Canvas Modules. Readings are available to download from the UTS Library Subject Resources eReadings for the subject, or are available freely on the web via the URL given in the weekly program section. Where possible, print copies will be placed on Short Loan and open Reserve in the UTS Library. The following books are also recommended for seminar and essay preparation reading. Students are encouraged to also locate and read short sources online about ethical considerations when undertaking internships, and when university students interview practitioners.

References

Beck, U., 2014. The brave new world of work. John Wiley & Sons.

Neyland, D., 2007. Organizational ethnography. Sage.

Garsten, C. and Nyqvist, A., 2013. Organisational anthropology: doing ethnography in and among complex organisations. Pluto Press.

Cooper, L., Orrell, J. and Bowden, M., 2010. Work integrated learning: A guide to effective practice. Routledge.

Martin, A. and Hughes, H., 2011. How to make the most of work integrated learning. Ako Aotearoa.

Pandeli, J., Sutherland, N. and Gaggioti, H. (2022) Organizational Ethnography: An Experiential and Practical Guide. Routledge