Professional Orientation (Fundamentals) (11507.2)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Professional Orientation (Fundamentals)
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 UC College, Bruce, ACT
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Business, Government & Law
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Canberra Business School Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Band 5 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit supports students in planning and preparing for their professional life by providing a framework to successfully navigate their way through university study and from this springboard to their chosen professional destination. It is intended to provide students with the knowledge, skills and insights into how to manage the transitions into university from there into the professional world. The aspects of the unit will be considered through an evidence-based professional lens (i.e. not simply foundational university skills, but putting these skills within their professional contexts). This unit also provides a basic understanding of various disciplines in Business, Commerce, Government and Policy required by graduates of a relevant degree.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify the personal skills, capabilities and knowledge necessary to meet the work standards expected by commerce, business or government and policy graduates in the workplace, and develop a personal and academic plan to achieve these;
2. Map out their academic and professional trajectories over the next five years in an ePortfolio;
3. Demonstrate their ability to recall and apply the knowledge, professional and personal skills required in the discipline-specific fields;
4. Identify communication modes appropriate to their discipline and professional destination;
5. Work effectively in teams to achieve academic and real-world/professional goals; and
6. Reflect upon the relationship between diversity, divergence and innovation in effective teamwork.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Skills development

This unit has a focus on transitioning into university and looking forward towards their professional development as well as the future of work. Professional Orientation introduces a range of reflective practices for both personal and professional identity as part of academic and professional planning and development. 



Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

9799 Foundations of Professional Planning, 11010 Professional Orientation (Commerce), 11011 Professional Orientation (Business), 11012 Professional Orientation (Government & Policy).

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 2 26 May 2025 On-campus Mr Saeed Uz Zaman Khan
2025 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 3 15 September 2025 On-campus Mr Saeed Uz Zaman Khan
2026 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 2 29 June 2026 On-campus Mr Saeed Uz Zaman Khan
2026 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 3 26 October 2026 On-campus Mr Saeed Uz Zaman Khan
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Bassot, B., 2020. The reflective journal. Macmillan International Higher Education. 3rd Edition

Please note that this text will be used in a number of professional practice units.

 

Suggested:

Yunkaporta, T., 2019. Sand Talk, How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World. The Text Publishing Company, Melbourne Australia

Callaghan, P. and Gordon, P., 2014. iridescence, Finding your colours and living your story. MoshPit Publishing, Hazelbrook NSW Australia

 

Submission of assessment items

Special assessment requirements

NOTE that to pass this unit the student must:

  • Achieve an overall result of 50% or greater; AND
  • The student should participate in ALL assessment items

Artificial intelligence

Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit, except for Studiosity Writing Feedback Plus.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

In order to get the most out of your studies, it is strongly recommended that you plan your time commitments, actively engage in class discussions (online or face-to-face) and work with your peers as part of your study. The amount of time you will need to spend on study in this unit will depend on a number of factors including your prior knowledge, learning skill level and learning style. Nevertheless, in planning your time commitments you should note that for a 3 credit point unit the total notional workload over the semester or term is assumed to be 150 hours. 

Activities

Hours

Weekly lecture: 1 hours/week, 11 times

11

Weekly workshop and tutorial: 3 hours/week, 11 times

33

Weekly study commitment, in addition to the 2 items above: 1.5 hours/week, 12 times (including mid-term break)

 18

Industry Statement: preparation time

18

ePortfolio: preparation time of 25 hours

25

Professional Conversation 

 10

Critical Reflection

 35

Total

150

Participation requirements

Whilst attendance at lectures and workshops does not form a component of the mark for this unit, lecture, tutorial and workshop activities are very focused towards assessments for this unit and your professional field. Therefore, attendance is expected. Your particpation in classes and any out-of-class activities will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation will severely jeopardise your ability to pass the assessment items, and students who do not attend classes tend to fail the unit.

Required IT skills

Basic use of internet browsers (eg. Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer) is essential.

Competent use of word-processing, presentation and presentation tools (e.g. Microsoft Office suite) is highly desirable.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

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