Professional Practices

Informed by the needs of employers, business and professional bodies this course explores key issues of contemporary workplaces and has a focus on preparing students for the changing nature of careers within the Professions. The underlying assumptions, values, experiences and skills, forms of knowledge and broader contexts that impact and inform students' professional practice approach are also covered. Students will be required to draw on theoretical perspectives and ideas from contemporary research as well as insights generated through critical reflection and collaborative problem-solving. This course introduces the various communication options available in a business context so that students can make appropriate choices in the workplace. Students will gain confidence in their ability to communicate by practising and receiving feedback on business communication skills. Through this critical enquiry process, it is expected that students will further develop their understandings of their own practices and change and develop aspects of these practices.
It has a particular emphasis on building professional knowledge of working in a business environment and developing work ready skills in the areas of written and oral communication, intercultural communication, client service, problem solving and self-management. Students will develop strategies to communicate these abilities through career communication, including career documents and interviews. Opportunities for improving academic and workplace language proficiency are embedded in the course.