Frequently Asked Questions
The following is a list of questions commonly asked by students who are considering joining Global Experience, or those who have already registered. If you have a question which is not answered by the following, please contact the Global Experience team for more information.
About Global Experience
Joining Global Experience
Orientation
Questions about BUSS 1056
Questions about the Experience Suite
Questions about MyAdvantage
Graduation and beyond
About Global Experience
How is Global Experience going to benefit me?
Increasingly, employers report they are looking for the 'complete package'
in graduates when they apply for a position. This includes an appropriate
qualification, but also evidence of skills such as leadership, teamwork and
communication, complimented by qualities such as flexibility and a
willingness to get in there and learn. In addition, certain activities
undertaken during a university career are also appealing to employers, such
as studying a second language, internship or work experience. Nearly 70% of
multinational employer from a recent Employer Perceptions survey
viewed overseas study experience as a definite positive on a graduate
resume. Eighty-one percent of employers believed graduates who undertook an
overseas experience return to Australia with enhanced skills that are
applicable to the workplace! These activities demonstrate well-roundedness,
initiative, flexibility and the ability to adapt to a variety of
situations*.
Global Experience ties together all of these experiences and provides
recognition for your hard work and dedication through the Experience Suite.
As well you will develop sought after skills, such as networking and
intercultural communication through the BUSS1056 Global Experience
Professional Development course. You will receive
industry exposure through the course and networking events and gain an
understanding of how industry works and what they seek in graduates through
first hand accounts from industry speakers. Through MyAdvantage you will
develop skills to promote your experience, skills and knowledge to potential
employers. Plus completion of Global Experience is noted on your transcript,
your experiences outlined in a letter from the University and a certificate
presented to add to your resume. Global Experience will provide you with a
strong competitive advantage above other graduates!
* From 'The Attitudes and perceptions of Australian employers towards an
overseas experience', QETI and IEAA. Sep 2006.
So Global Experience is a course?
There is a course, BUSS 1056 Global Experience Professional Development,
which is a core component of Global Experience. However, Global Experience
is much more than just a course! There are four core components to Global
Experience which add to a total of 120 points -
Orientation (5 points),
BUSS 1056 (10 points),
Experience Suite (100
points) and MyAdvantage Professional
Development (5 points). Students must complete all four components to be
awarded the Global Experience program.
Does Global Experience cost me anything (is there a fee)?
There is no fee to join Global Experience. The BUSS 1056 course does have a
course fee associated with it such as HECS-HELP or an international student
fee as per any other normal course you would undertake as part of your
academic program. The best thing is, that as you take BUSS 1056 as an
elective in your normal program, you won't be out of pocket on top of
normal program costs. There are some events which we encourage you to
attend, such as Network Now, which do have a cost involved, however these
are not compulsory, just an option.
Is there a time limit to complete Global Experience?
You need to complete all of the components (Orientation, BUSS 1056,
Experience Suite and MyAdvantage) for Global Experience before you graduate
from your undergraduate program at UniSA. For example, if you are in your
final year, you could complete Global Experience in one year. Alternatively,
if you are a part time student you might take 6 years or more to complete
the requirements.
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Joining Global Experience
How do I join?
To join Global Experience, please register on line
here.
Global Experience staff will be in contact within a week of your registration to
provide you with any information you may need to help get your Global
Experience underway. You should also consider your enrolment for 2010, and
whether you can include the course BUSS 1056 in your course selection. BUSS
1056 is a core component of Global Experience. See
Questions about BUSS 1056 for more
information.
I'm in my first year, can I join Global Experience?
Definitely! The earlier you join the better, as you can plan how to fit in
your Experience Suite activities through out your academic program, as well
as where you can fit in the BUSS 1056 course.
I'm a postgraduate student, can I join Global Experience?
At this stage the course BUSS 1056 is only offered to undergraduate
students. As the course is a core component of Global Experience completion
of the program for postgraduate students will not be possible at this stage.
This may change in the future with the course being offered to postgraduate
students, although we can not guarantee it.
I'm an external student, can I join Global Experience?
From SP2 2010, BUSS1056 will be offered to undergraduate external students.
please check the timetable closer to the opening of online enrolments for
2010. You can join Global
Experience through the online registration
form, attend Orientation (on campus) and start building on your Experience Suite activities.
You must also attend MyAdvantage which is also only available on
campus.
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Orientation
What is involved in Orientation?
Orientation is held over half a
day. We go through all you need to know to make Global Experience work
for you and set you apart from the crowd! There are also activities
designed to take you out of the square and give you a taste of the
networking component you will experience during BUSS 1056.
Do I have to attend?
Yes, Orientation is a core component of Global Experience and will reward
you with 5 points toward the 120 point total required to complete the
program.
How do I find out when Orientation is on?
Dates for Orientation and session times will be advertised on the
website. You will also be
contacted by Global Experience staff and advised of the dates and
times and asked to register for a session that suits your commitments.
I am going on exchange in study period 5, will I be able to attend
Orientation before I go?
If you are unable to attend because you will be already on your way to your
exchange destination, please contact
Global Experience staff and let them know. They can arrange a
meeting to go through the program with you and provide the documentation you
will need to get started for your Global Experience.
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Questions about BUSS 1056
How does BUSS 1056 Global Experience Professional Development fit into
my academic program?
The course is designed to be taken as an elective course within your
normal academic program. If you aren't sure if you can take the course as an
elective, it is best to confirm this with your Program Director or Student
Advisor.
What are the prerequisites for the course?
You must have completed a minimum of 18 units (4 courses) successfully at UniSA when
you commence BUSS 1056. This means if you are in your first year and have
studied a full course load in your first study period and passed all four
courses, you can enrol in BUSS
1056 in your second study period.
Can I count the courses I gained credit for at another institution
toward this prerequisite requirement?
No, you must have completed the 18 units at UniSA in a UniSA program. This
is important as we want you to have some experience in how UniSA teaches,
our academic expectations of you, and how the University works, as each
university or higher education provider is very different!
I have already completed the elective requirements for my
program, can I take this as an 'extra' course?
No, government legislation means students can not take more courses than are
required to meet their program requirements. However, if you have already
met the elective components of your program through gaining credit
for either of these you may wish to consider rescinding one course. This
means you effectively give back one course that you received credit for,
leaving a course free to use for your BUSS 1056 enrolment. Please discuss
this option with your Program Director or School Advisor for correct advice
relevant to your individual program.
After discussing with your Program Director, if this course is not an option for you, please complete the 'Inability to complete BUSS 1056' form and submit to the Global Experience team for consideration.
What kind of contact hours will I have for BUSS 1056?
The course will run quite differently to other UniSA courses. There will be
three contact hours per week in workshop format, however there will be 3 weeks
where there is no contact and students are expected to undertake
self-directed activities. More information will be provided in the Course
Information Booklet and during the introductory lectures.
What kind of assessment is there?
There are four pieces of assessment, each worth 25%. You must complete
each piece of assessment to pass the course. No, there is no exam.
| Form of assessment | Length | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Reflective journal (to be kept from Week 1 through the whole study period) | 1500-5000 words | 25% |
| Intercultural communication group project with a component of individual assessment | 1500 equivalent | 25% |
| Networking plan | 1500 equivalent | 25% |
| Career management plan and supporting documents | 1500 equivalent | 25% |
Why do you recommend that I take the course early in my Global
Experience involvement?
We recommend you complete BUSS 1056 as early in your involvement in Global
Experience as possible (taking into consideration the prerequisites). This
is due to the nature and content of the course, which covers networking,
career management and intercultural communication. The skills and knowledge
you gain from the course will be of use to you throughout your time at
University, not only in Global Experience (in particular the Experience
Suite), but also in your academic program and any employment you undertake
whilst at uni.
I've completed a course similar to this in my academic program - do I
have to take this course?
To complete Global Experience you must complete all four components,
including the course (it is worth 10 points toward the 120 total required).
It is unlikely that you will have completed a course previously which covers
all aspects of BUSS1056. If you have completed a course with an
international or global context you can apply to use it as points toward the
Experience Suite.
I'm a law/physio/social work/engineering student, how is this course
relevant to me?
The course is designed to develop skills such as networking and
intercultural communication which are applicable across all disciplines. The
component on career management aims to equip you to strategically manage
your career beyond the borders of a single organisation, and you will be
able to tailor this to your own particular interests, goals and career
focus.
Questions about the Experience Suite
How many points do I need to complete the Experience Suite?
You need to complete activities which add to a minimum of 100 points to
meet the requirements of the Experience Suite. Of course, you can always do
more than 100 points worth, that is just the minimum! You can find the
current list of activities and criteria
here.
Can I count all my points from courses I've completed in my academic
program?
No, the program is designed to encourage and reward you for undertaking
extra-curricular activities, such as mentoring, volunteering and
participating in conferences, workshops and other activities. While there
are some components from your academic program that count toward your
Experience Suite points, such as exchange, short term
study programs and language and international studies courses, the program is designed
to set limits on these so you do need to
undertake some extra-curricular activities to complete the Experience Suite.
I want to go on exchange, how do I apply?
Fantastic! An international exchange will make an impressive addition to
your resume, while providing you with a truly global education. It will
increase your confidence, cultural understanding, interpersonal skills and
independence. You will benefit from a new environment, different teaching
and learning techniques and you can immerse yourself in culture different
from the one you know here. All of this, plus you can claim points toward
the Experience Suite! If you would like more information about where you can
go and how to apply, please visit the
UniSA
International Exchange website.
What kind of funding is available to help me study overseas?
There are many funding and scholarship opportunities available to assist
students student overseas on exchange. Provided you meet the
eligibility criteria for exchange, a travel grant will be provided of up
to $2500. There are different scholarships offered throughout the year, as
well as the OS-HELP program for Australian citizens. You can find more
information about funding opportunities
here.
I've studied a language while I've been at uni, can I count each
course toward the Experience Suite?
You can count one course from your academic program only. This
may be one language course, one international studies course or a 4.5 unit
practicum with an international focus.
I have already completed a lot of these activities while I've been at
uni, do I have to do them again?
No. We recognise that many students have already undertaken
extra-curricular activities while they have been studying at uni and we want
to recognise your contribution to the community. You can apply to have
activities you have previously completed during your time at university
toward the Experience Suite using the 'Activity Criteria and Application'
form found in the For participants
section of the website. In 2009 students will be able to count
three quarters credit (75 points) and the amount of credit claimable will
decrease in future years as more students join the program early in the
academic program.
I want to attend an activity that isn't listed in the Experience
Suite, how do I know if it will count?
The list of activities listed in the Experience Suite is by no means
exhaustive. If you have completed an activity previously that is not listed,
or would like to attend and activity in the future, you can apply to have
the Experience assessed for inclusion in the Experience Suite. Please
complete the form 'Petition for Experience Suite activity' found in the
For participants section.
I've worked overseas, can I claim points for that?
If you have completed an unpaid internship overseas as part of your
academic program, then yes, you can claim this toward the Experience Suite.
However, if you worked overseas prior to commencing your program or during a
break that has not been counted toward your UniSA program it will not count
toward the Experience Suite. The program is designed to encourage engagement
in international activities whilst you are studying, to develop skills and
attributes that will compliment your academic program and provide that edge
as a UniSA graduate.
Questions about MyAdvantage
When can I complete the MyAdvantage component?
The MyAdvantage Development Experience is the capstone component for the
program, and is designed to be undertaken at the completion of your
involvement in Global Experience. You must have attended an Orientation
session, be currently enrolled in or have successfully completed the
BUSS1056 course, and have completed a minimum of 65 points in the Experience
Suite to undertake this component of the program.
What happens during the Workshop?
The workshop is designed to be interactive and the facilitator will
work through ways of marketing yourself to employers, what to expect in a
panel interview, and what is required for the panel presentation.
What happens during the panel presentation?
For the presentation, you are required to present a portfolio of the
activities you have
completed within the Experience Suite and demonstrate what skills these
activities have helped you develop, and how you can apply these to the
workplace. You also need to practice the marketing skills we discuss during
the workshop and demonstrate what sets you apart from other students (the
skills, knowledge and experience you have gained which gives you 'the
edge'). As you are presenting on the experiences you have had during your
Global Experience journey, we require that you have completed at least 65
points of the Experience Suite to be able to meet the objectives of the
presentation.
You present your portfolio to a panel of 4 senior executives from industry, plus Global Experience staff and fellow students undertaking the panel at that time. As a guide, each student has half an hour to present their portfolio plus receive questions and feedback from the panel members. There are a maximum of 4 students presenting to a panel per session You are welcome to invite your parents and/or partner to view your presentation only should you wish.
You will receive the feedback from panel members in a typed document within 4 weeks after the panel is completed.
I've completed a presentation to industry in one of my courses
recently, can I use this as a substitute for MyAdvantage?
No, you must complete all four components of Global Experience to receive
the notation on your transcript, certificate and letter from the University.
Graduation and beyond
What will I receive when I complete Global Experience?
When you have completed the requirements for Global Experience you will
receive a certificate of completion and a letter from the University
outlining the Experiences you have undertaken and an outline of the program.
Both of these items will be fantastic additions to your resume and
demonstrate an additional skill set and experience to potential employers.
Completion of Global Experience will also be noted on your academic
transcript in a similar fashion to the University Merit Award..
Can I still be involved in Global Experience after I graduate somehow?
Of course! As a Global Experience Alumni your involvement in the program can
continue after you have graduated from your academic program and completed
the requirements for Global Experience. You may be interested in mentoring
current Global Experience students, speaking at Orientation and promotional
events such as Open Day about your Global Experience involvement or
assisting with workshops as a UniSA graduate employed in your field. If you
are interested in continuing your involvement in Global Experience once you
graduate, please contact the
Global Experience team to discuss.