Articulating the learning : professional practice made explicit

Abstract

The Diploma of Professional Practice at Central Queensland University has been developed to explicitly prepare students in the Bachelor of Engineering (Co-op) program for their industrial work placement, and then to enable them to articulate the learnings from that placement. The Diploma is a compulsory element of the Co-operative Education program, and awarded as the dual award BEng (Co-op)/Dip Prof Prac Eng at graduation.The Diploma of Professional Practice, equips graduates with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed in professional practice and for professional leadership. The combined program is designed around the triple themes of intellectual, social and professional development. A feature of the professional practice program is its integration with the periods of work placement in a professional environment that provides the opportunity to learn and put into practice, professional practice skills. The existing work placements are highly regarded by employers, and this program provides students with the education to maximise the learning occurring in the professional environment. The program is structured with internal courses delivered before and after work placement periods which provide preparation and review of skills, that will be put into practice in the work place, as well as reflection on the learning.The program is a generic program providing students with the necessary professional practice skills to go into the placement and the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences in the workplace. It is through this reflective process that the implicit learning from the work placement becomes explicit assessable learning