Professional Practice in IT (7722.5)

Please note these are the 2021 details for this unit
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Professional Practice in IT
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
Online real-time
 Bruce, Canberra
UC College, Bruce, ACT
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Science And Technology
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Academic Program Area - Technology Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit introduces students to professionalism and develops their communication and independent scholarship skills, with a focus on their use in the information technology field. Topics covered include researching and making use of information resources; the nature of critical enquiry; communication and presentation techniques, both written and oral; group work; workplace ethics, professional practice, code of ethics and professional standards; and adapting to the diverse cultural practices and individual styles involved in and influencing workplace communication.
This unit may be cotaught with 6676 Professional Practice in IT G.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Describe the nature of the ICT profession;
2. Express ICT related concepts clearly and succinctly in written, oral, and other forms of communication media;
3. Exemplify how to use available information resources efficiently, synthesise, and organize information to produce reports, applying the principles of referencing;
4. Practice the key skills, knowledge, attributes and attitudes required to be an IT professional, with particular reference to professional practice, code of ethics and professional standards; and
5. Apply the principles of group work and reflect on the nature of working in teams, with the appreciation of the issues, such as ethics, conflict resolution, negotiation in culturally diverse workplace.


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 - 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 - think globally about issues in their profession
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


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

6676 Professional Practice in IT G.

Equivalent units

None.

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 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Dr Ali Eshraghi
2025 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Mr Tariq Alqura'N Alzyadat
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 Online real-time Dr Ali Eshraghi
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 Online real-time Dr Ali Eshraghi
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Ali Eshraghi
2025 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 3 15 September 2025 On-campus Mr Tariq Alqura'N Alzyadat
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 Online real-time Dr Ali Eshraghi
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Dr Ali Eshraghi
2026 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 1 02 March 2026 On-campus Mr Tariq Alqura'N Alzyadat
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 Online real-time Dr Ali Eshraghi
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Ali Eshraghi
2026 UC College, Bruce, ACT UC College Trimester 3 26 October 2026 On-campus Mr Tariq Alqura'N Alzyadat
Not available

Required texts

Textbooks:

  • Habash, R. (2019) Professional Practice in Engineering and Computing: Preparing for Future Careers. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
  • Bott, F. and Taylor, N. (2022) Professional Issues in IT. 3rd edn. Swindon: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

Journals:

Students are also advised to read selected articles from the following journals to support their understanding of key concepts in this unit:

  • Information, Communication & Society
  • Technology in Society
  • Journal of Business Ethics
  • Journal of Information Technology (JIT)

Professional Bodies:

  • Australian Computer Society 
  • The SFIA Foundation

Most neccessary learning materials are provided in Canvas.

Submission of assessment items

Special assessment requirements

An aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit.

Academic Integrity Module (AIM):
The Academic Integrity Module (AIM) is an introductory eLearning course for undergraduate and postgraduate UC students in all disciplines. This course will help develop your knowledge and understanding of academic integrity emphasising the values and skills necessary, so you are informed about how to avoid plagiarism and academic misconduct. Further details will be provided in Canvas.

Students must complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) in order to pass this unit.

The final unit mark will be converted into the final unit grade following the university grading schema as described in the policies and procedures.

The unit convenor reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes.

 

Supplementary assessment

UC College students in their last semester of study may be eligible to re-sit a supplementary exam or assessment to gain a pass grade. Refer to the UCC student handbook for more information.

Further assessment information and Grade descriptions
All assignments are required to be submitted by the due date. If, for any reason, you are unable to do an assignment by the due date you must submit, to the lecturer or your tutor, a request for an extension in writing before the due date (except in special cases considered reasonable to the tutor). The request must set out, in detail, the genuine and exceptional reason for requesting the extension. If there is a medical reason for the extension request it must be accompanied by a medical certificate (see below).

Medical certificates. Your medical certificate must clearly state:

  • That you were unfit to complete the assignment;
  • The date of the medical consultation;
  • The period during which you were/are/will be unfit; and
  • The severity of your illness.

However, as an integral part of the learning theory that underpins this unit, students may be asked to re-submit their written assignments if the lecturer and /or tutor decide that the quality of work submitted is not at a reasonable standard that would, as a minimum, gain a Pass level grade. This request will be given in close consultation with the student. There will be no re-submissions after week 12 of the term. Note that a re-submitted assignment can only achieve a Pass level or Fail.

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

Activity

Estimated Hours

Review of teaching materials plus tutorial preparation

40

Weekly tutorials: 2 hours x 11 weeks

22

Assignment 1

10

Assignment 2

10

Assessment 3

15

Assessment 4

23

Assessment  5

15

Individual Study 

15
Total 150

Inclusion and engagement

It is strongly recommended that students who need assistance in undertaking the unit because of disability or an ongoing health condition register with the Inclusion and Engagement Office as soon as possible so that reasonable adjustment arrangements can be made.

Participation requirements

Students are required to go through all learning materials and activities regularly. There is a direct correlation between success in this unit and class/tutorial attendance and the use of Canvas. Students with poor engagement will find it difficult to keep up with the workload.

Your participation in class and in tutorials will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assignments. Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items.

Engagement with the unit activities is expected also as a means to demonstrate your professional conduct.

All students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) or indicate that they have completed it already in another unit. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

 
 

Required IT skills

General IT skills.

In-unit costs

Relevant fees must be paid prior to enrolment in this unit.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

N/A