There is an increasing requirement for students to understand the international and cultural dimensions of professional practice. Further, to be successful in the workplace students need to develop generic professional skills, and an understanding of themselves as professionals.

This is a first generation entry for this unit.

The role of this unit is to provide students with an opportunity to develop

• an appreciation of what it means to be considered a professional in the discipline of Information Technology
• graduate attributes required by an industry
• an e-portfolio

The aim of the unit is to equip students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to:

• meet the challenges of study at the post-graduate level
• engage in professional practice in an international context
• communicate in a cross-cultural setting

This unit incorporates and expands on the objectives of the current FIT9001 Masters Transition Program. It will focus on the development of professional skills needed in a global marketplace and will introduce a cross-cultural dimension of professional practice.

This unit will develop generic graduate attributes and it is anticipated that the skills developed by students will be applicable to their study in other units. An important element of this unit is the introduction of an e-portfolio which will allow students to document evidence of the skills they develop. It is expected that students will continue to add to their e-portfolio as they complete other units in the Masters degree, thereby providing them with a resource for supporting their future applications for employment.

The Australian Computer Society lists interpersonal communications, ethics, social implications, globalisation and professional practice as mandatory knowledge for computing graduates. In this unit students will have the opportunities to engage with these issues by exploring professional practice in a global and multicultural context.

One of the key learning outcomes for graduates of this university is to develop the skills to be an independent life long learner. In this unit students will be expected to develop an e-portfolio to illustrate the unfolding development of their professional and personal knowledge, skills and attributes. Further, an e-portfolio will allow students to demonstrate how they understand the relationships built among many individual achievements. It is anticipated that students will use their e-portfolio throughout their course.

At the completion of this unit students will have a theoretical and conceptual understanding of:

• K1. IT as a discipline - its philosophy, theoretical underpinnings, ways of thinking and professional practice
• K2. The complex interplay of local, national and global factors that influence professional practice
• K3. The principles of the Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics and how they relate to professional practice
• K4. The impact of cultural diversity on professional practice
• K5. Cross-cultural communication and team work
• K6. Reflexive practice

At the completion of this unit students will have developed attitudes that enable them to:

• A1. Identify skills that are valued by the profession and by key employers
• A2. Appreciate and value cultural difference and understand its significance in relation to professional practice
• A3. Develop an international awareness and openness to the world, based on understanding and appreciation of social and cultural diversity and respect for individual human rights and dignity
• A4. Develop an understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them
• A5. Be open to new ideas and unconventional critiques of received wisdom
• A6. Appreciate the need for life-long learning and on-going professional development

At the completion of this unit students will have the skills to:

• P1. Apply logical and rational processes to analyse the components of an issue related to professional practice (problem solving)
• P2. Think creatively to generate innovative solutions
• P3. Apply international standards and practices within a professional area
• P4. Reflect on their learning and utilise lifelong learning skills
• P5. Conduct appropriate scholarly and professional research
• P6. Find, organise, evaluate and design information through a variety of media
• P7. Take responsibility for their own self-directed learning through the use of an e-portfolio

At the completion of this unit students will have developed the teamwork skills needed to:

• S1. Write effectively for different purposes and for different audiences ? academic writing, technical reports and reflective evaluations
• S2. Determine which presentation style, mode and vehicle is appropriate for any given situation
• S3. Actively participate in a group discussion (listening and speaking), including the expression of an individual response
• S4. Work cooperatively in small cross-cultural teams

ASCED Code: 029999

FIT9002 Professional practice in an international context will give students the opportunity to develop the professional skills needed in a global marketplace and will introduce a cross-cultural dimension of professional practice in Information Technology.

Topics will include IT as a global discipline, professional practice of IT in an international context, theories of cultural difference and the impact on IT implementation, ethical principles, moral and legal responsibilities, social and professional values, the impact of culture on ethics, communication, technology transfer, and working in teams, interpersonal communication, e-portfolio development, reflexive practice.

FIT9002 Professional practice in an international context will give students the opportunity to develop the professional skills needed in a global marketplace and will introduce a cross-cultural dimension of professional practice in Information Technology.

Topics will include IT as a global discipline, professional practice of IT in an international context, theories of cultural difference and the impact on IT implementation, ethical principles, moral and legal responsibilities, social and professional values, the impact of culture on ethics, communication, technology transfer, and working in teams, interpersonal communication, e-portfolio development, reflexive practice.

To be announced

This unit will be available in both on-campus and OCL mode.

Teaching strategies will include active learning in small group work, case studies, concept mapping, use of guest speakers. Cultural differences will be explored through games, discussion, concept mapping, case studies, readings, personal reflection.

MUSO will be used for unit management, resources, online discussions.

If this unit is offered at our international campuses, Marratech will be used, not only to deliver lectures, but also for students to be part of an 'international' community.

Students will also be expected to keep an e-portfolio, where they will reflect on their learning and collect evidence of development of desired graduate attributes.

• Objectives K1-K6: These objectives will be addresed through ectures and supporting examples, text references, resources and guest lecturers.
• Objectives A1-A6: In addition to lectures and supporting examples, text references and resources, these learning objectives will be addressed through discussions in tutorials, action research projects, Marratech sessions, written reports, oral presentations and e-portfolios.
• Objective P1-P7: In addition to lectures and supporting examples, text references and resources, these learning objectives will be addressed through discussions in tutorials, action research projects, Marratech sessions, written reports, oral presentations and e-portfolios.
• Objectives S1-S4: In addition to lectures and supporting examples, text references and resources, these learning objectives will be addressed through discussions in tutorials, action research projects, Marratech sessions, written reports, oral presentations and e-portfolios.

Assessment strategies include

• essay - critical review (20%)
• group project, involving report and oral presentation (20%)
• e-portfolio (20%)
• formal supervised assessment (40%)

• Objectives K1-K6: These objectives will be assessed through the completion of a critical review, a group project, involving both a report and an oral presentation, an e-portfolio and formal supervised assessment activities throughout the semester.
• Objectives A1-A6: These objectives will be assessed through the completion of a critical review, a group project, involving both a report and an oral presentation, an e-portfolio and formal supervised assessment activities throughout the semester.
• Objective P1-P7: These objectives will be assessed through the completion of a critical review, a group project, involving both a report and an oral presentation, an e-portfolio and formal supervised assessment activities throughout the semester.
• Objectives S1-S4: These objectives will be assessed through the completion, a group project, involving both a report and an oral presentation, an e-portfolio and formal supervised assessment activities throughout the semester.

12 hours per week. Contact time will be four hours per week. This will include lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, small group work and Marratech sessions.

On-campus offerings will require a high-tech lecture theatre with data display and internet connection, with a PC and facility to plug in a laptop, for two hours per week throughout the semester.

Tutorials will normally be scheduled in flexible learning spaces with access to networked computers, discussion and group-work facilities (flexible desk arrangements, white boards, data projectors). Some tutorial sessions will require the Marratech laboratory.

Laboratory sessions will normally require a lab equipped with the Standard Operating Environment.

One lecturer for each semester. Lectures will be podcast or conducted through Marratech. One tutor per tutorial session/workshop for each campus offering each semester. Equivalent requirements for summer semester offerings.

Marratech

Adequate copies of at least the recommended texts listed above.

Faculty of Information Technology.

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This is a Faculty unit and the team responsible for its development has had representatives from all organizational units of the faculty.

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