University of Technology Sydney

99205 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: 8 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 99204 Global Governance
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 94680 Entering Professional Life (6cp) AND 94681 Entering Professional Life (8cp)

Description

This subject allows students to undertake a substantial work placement in an organisation with global connections, and in a discipline and employment area related to their Global Studies major. Students independently research the global aspects of work in the organisation in which they are placed. Skills developed include: researching global phenomena as they manifest in professional practice, building research informed arguments, reflecting critically on practice and work organisations, communicating and learning online, and presenting research findings using experiential learning and theory informed critique.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a. Use a variety of research methods and research independently global phenomena
b. Synthesize understandings from Global Studies, studies in the Major and workplace experience to generate arguments about globalization
c. Draw connections between everyday work phenomena, global processes and global theories and develop arguments and rationales
d. Reflect critically on workplace cultures, learning and careers

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):

  • Work independently and evaluate one's own performance (1.2)
  • Contribute effectively within a team (1.3)
  • Solve complex trans-disciplinary problems using research and analysis to develop creative and/or evidence-based approaches (2.1)
  • Understand how global phenomena play out in local situations, and the reasons behind different perspectives on globalisation (3.1)
  • Demonstrate awareness of the processes through which local, cultural and national identities are formed and the roles of these identities in global processes (3.2)
  • Act ethically as informed by an awareness of connections between global and local issues (5.1)
  • Adopt a questioning approach to global aspects of one's professional and personal lives (5.2)
  • Communicate and collaborate effectively in a variety of communication scenarios and contexts (6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

The main learning activities in this subject are the experience of work and independent research about the global aspects of that work. In order to maximise flexibility and to enable students to undertake their work placements when and where best suited to their interests, this subject will be offered online, even for students placed in Sydney. There will be preparatory teaching workshops focused on an introductory briefing, placement strategies and research methods at the start of semester and de-briefing classes after the placement at the end of semester. Students will be supervised through their work placement and independent research through UTSOnline (much as they are for In Country Student subjects in the BAIS). This support will include advice during the placement, provision of academic resources on reflective learning, research skills, global studies and work in progress seminars. Core texts are reproduced in a subject reader, additional resources are available online and in the UTS library.

Content (topics)

The core topics for the subject are global aspects of work in the organization in which the student is placed. There will also be briefing and de-briefing workshops, content on reflective practice, workplace learning and organizational research methods, including organizational ethnography The placement will be of no less than 50 hours and students will prepare assessments which help them critically evaluate their work and learning experiences in relation to the themes from Global Studies.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Internship Learning Plan

Objective(s):

b, c and d

Weight: 20%
Length:

1,000 word max
Criteria:
  • Suitability of the learning goals identified, justified by an authentic self-assessment of development needs
  • Explanation of the global topic to be researched supported by relevant readings
  • Well-organised and professional plan that demonstrates a realistic targeting of placement organisation and identifies how the placement opportunity is intended to generate learning on global topic
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Suitability of the learning goals identified, justified by an authentic self-assessment of development needs 40 b, d 1.2
Critical integration of theory learnt in in-class workshop and subject readings 40 c 5.2
Professional and organised presentation of Learning Plan 20 d 6.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Work Observation Protocol

Objective(s):

a, b, c and d

Weight: 20%
Length:

1,000 word max
Criteria:
  • Clarity of protocols for undertaking research in placement organisation
  • Effectively draws upon and interprets relevant readings to justify the use of research methods in placement organisation
  • Creative design/use/integration of research protocols that is tailored to a current business concern for the placement organisation and/or emerging trend in a global studies topic
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Identification of relevant research methods and ethical dimensions for undertaking observation in placement organisation 30 a 5.1
Critical use of relevant readings to justify the use of research methods in placement organisation 30 b, c 3.1
Identification of how the placement opportunity is intended to generate learning on global topic 30 c, d 2.1
Clarity of communication of Workplace Observation Protocol 10 d 6.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Work Experience Reflection

Objective(s):

a, b, c and d

Weight: 50%
Length:

3,000 word max.
Criteria:
  • Ability to summarise, analyse and authentically reflect on the work placement experience
  • Identification of critical insights (including strengths and weaknesses) based on personal understandings of the theory and practice of ethnographic research
  • Quality of analysis on the global topic as experienced in the placement organisation and its implications for manifestations of the ‘global’, justified by relevant readings
  • Ability to demonstrate macro-level critical reflections about global practitioners, the changing nature of global work and the meanings and implications of the ‘global’ for learning, organisations and society
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Ability to summarise, analyse and authentically reflect on the work placement experience 30 d 1.2
Identification of critical insights (including strengths and weaknesses) based on personal understandings of the theory and practice of ethnographic research 30 a, b, d 5.2
Critical analysis on the global topic as experienced in the placement organisation and its implications for manifestations of the ‘global’, justified by relevant readings 30 b, c 3.2
Coherence of analysis and clarity of expression 10 d 6.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 4: Internship De-Brief Compliance

Objective(s):

c and d

Weight: 10%
Length:

15 minutes
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Timely correspondence with Subject Coordinator 25 c 6.1
Critical reflection on internship progress 50 d 1.2
Confirmed attendance from internship supervisor 25 d 1.3
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Required texts

Required readings for the subejct are available on UTSOnline.