School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Faculty of Science and Technology
Industry-based Learning (IBL) involves students working full-time in industry as part of their degree program. The IBL placement is incorporated into a Faculty unit as an elective and credited to the degree. A majority of placements will be on a full-time basis but there are some part-time positions. Typically, students will not undertake any study during a full-time IBL placement but it may be possible to complete an on-line unit. Students also receive a generous industry funded scholarship during the placement, however the units do attract normal university fees.
Recent IBL placements include the following organisations:
The Industry-based Learning (IBL) Program is designed for well rounded, high achieving students who have good interpersonal and communication skills. Students are expected to have a WAM of at least 70%, as well as available elective units. Please note that admission to the program is highly selective and involves several interviews and participation in professional development workshops.
IBL placements can be between 3 – 12 months in duration, and can be undertaken during the semester or over summer. In order to gain 1 credit point, students are required to complete at least 60 working days. A maximum of 4 credit points can be gained through IBL.
IBL students are usually assigned graduate level work consisting of a variety of tasks with varying learning objectives and challenges. Students may be asked to sign confidentiality agreements. Intellectual property relating to IBL placements remain with the industry partner.
IBL students are required to observe normal work hours accepted by the organisation. Any leave taken during the placement must be off-set against the duration of the placement.
Students are able to enrol in limited units while completing an IBL placement subject to approval from the placement organisation and the Faculty.
Students on IBL placements are paid a fortnightly stipend. In 2008, IBL students completing a full-time placement will be paid $621.00 per week (pro rata for part-time placements). This should be tax free for most students.
Placement organisations are required to assign an industry supervisor and a mentor for the student for the duration of the placement. The student will also be assigned an academic supervisor who will visit the student during the placement.
As IBL placements are credited to the course of study, they are assessed. The industry supervisor is required to carry out a performance evaluation mid-way through and at the end of the placement. The student must also meet continuous assessment requirements by managing their own performance, maintaining a logbook, writing several reports and making a presentation about their placement experience to academic staff, industry representatives and peers.
At the completion of a placement, a student is assigned a combined mark and graded as a course-work unit. If the student’s performance is found to be unsatisfactory the placement may be terminated early and the student is likely to be awarded a fail grade.
Placement providers are under no obligation to recruit IBL students upon completion of placement.
