Global business practicum
A Work Integrated Learning opportunity that takes small groups of students to one of two selected destinations, matching them with real companies and solving real-world problems.
Context
- Faculty/School: Faculty of Business and Economics
- Number of students: Approximately 100
- Year level: Graduate
- Curricular/or co-curricular: Curricular
Description
Global Business Practicum (GBP) is one of the Work Integrated Learning subjects at the Faculty of Business and Economics. Students accepted into the subject go through a rigorous selection process with an interview.
Two groups of 20 students participate, with each group guided by one academic, visits one of the two selected destinations for two weeks. At each site, students are split in five groups of four and each group is matched with a company. Groups are allocated based on student degree, skill set and areas of interest. Students work with a company on a real issue/problem that company chooses, but it has to be a doable project. Students will not be allocated to a project where they do not have the technical skills required. Most projects are multi-disciplinary. An academic mentor meets with students daily providing advice and facilitating some team building activities.
Prior to departure students, complete online training modules and attend an induction workshop. Online training focuses on project management, teamwork, consulting, design thinking, etc. They also use SBS Cultural Atlas, an educational resource providing comprehensive information on the cultural background of Australia’s migrant populations. The induction workshop includes information about logistics, teamwork, conflict resolution, common problems, etc.
The GBP has students research and ideate their project collaboratively with their host organisation, culminating in a presentation of major recommendations to key business decision-makers.
How does this program support IoC aims?
Global Business Practicum provides international experiential learning experiences to students as part of the subject curriculum. It gives students the opportunity to collaborate with team members on a realistic business scenario posed by an overseas company.
What have students said about this program?
Student feedback: “The Global Business Practicum taught me how to effectively communicate my ideas and manage the expectations of stakeholders from a remote setting. I learnt to work with team members across different time zones and together we pitched an online 40-minute presentation to board members.”