1 Subject details

1.1   Student participation requirements

The JCU Learning, Teaching and Assessment Procedures (2.1.2d) indicates a typical student workload for a three (3) credit point subject requires a 130 hour work load of study related activities, including attendance, assessment and self-directed study over the duration of the subject with equivalency across all attendance modes.

Note that attendance at specified classes will be a mandatory requirement for satisfactory completion of some subjects (Learning, Teaching and Assessment Procedures, 3.1.8e) and that additional hours may be required per week for those students in need of English language, numeracy or other learning support.

For information regarding class registration, visit the Class Registration Schedule.

Learning and teaching activities may be recorded for this subject.  Personal information in the form of  images and audio may be collected by JCU during the recording.  This personal information may appear as part of the recording which is accessible to students and staff in this subject on LearnJCU.

1.3   Subject description

This subject provides the foundation for professional business skills in the new economy with a particular focus on communicating and presenting information in business and academic contexts.

Contemporary business report writing and communicating proficiently across a range of business genres will be undertaken to assure students build a range of transferable skills suitable for a current business environment.

1.4   Subject learning outcomes and course learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, you will be able to:

• apply academic skills in academic writing, research and referencing

• demonstrate report writing in business contexts

•  present and communicate business information

• develop and demonstrate teamwork skills

These outcomes will contribute to your overall achievement ofcourse learning outcomes.

1.5   Student feedback on subject and teaching

Students are at the heart of JCU and as part of our commitment to improving the quality of our subjects and teaching, we regularly seek feedback on the JCU student experience.

YourJCU Surveys are available to all students throughLearnJCU. You will receive an email invitation when the survey opens.

In response to previous student feedback and other data, the following enhancements to this subject have been made:

At the commencement of 2022 the subject BU1105 was refreshed with an increased emphasis being placed on the development of academic skills as reflected in the subject codes title ‘Professional and Academic Skills for Business’. These changes being most evident in the subject’s new assessment regime. Previously this subject was named ‘Business Communication’ and whilst having had a focus on academic skills it had a stronger emphasis on workplace skills through its associated assessment.

The 2022 iteration of the subject was refreshed on the basis of a combination of student feedback, teaching staff observations and input and suggestions from  Learning  and Teaching staff specialists. Feedback from students who did the subject in 2022 was predominantly positive resulting in no changes being made for 2023/24.

We look forward to your feedback with respect to this subject in 2024 as part of our ongoing monitoring of its suitability and success from a student perspective.

1.6   Subject resources and special requirements

All subject readings and resources, including journal articles, book chapters, websites, videos, print and eTextbooks, are available to view online from your Readings list via your LearnJCsite.

This domain making it possible to view many of the materials relevant to this subject Online.

This subject is guided by two textbooks – details with respect to each being presented below.

Given that there are NO exams or tests in this subject it is not essential that you own a copy of either of these books. Accessing these two books however on a periodic basis will enhance your understanding of both the subject’s content as conveyed to you via the vodcast series and in the case of the second book assist you in developing and honing your academic skills.

The first of the subject’s associated textbooks by Judith Dwyer (2020) shadows much of the content  that is delivered to you via the subject’s weekly podcast series. There is also content within this text that will be useful in providing you with guidance in regard to this subject’s written assignments and  oral presentation.  This textbook also has the potential to be a useful resource in other subjects  that business degree students might undertake in the future. The referencing details for and an image of this books cover are presented below.

Dwyer, J. (2020) Communication for Business and the Professions: Strategies and Skills (7 th

edition). Melbourne: Pearsons Australia

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this book you can do so online using the links to the publisher’s website presented below. Purchases can be made in e-book or hardcopy format.

Click on this link to access the Publisher’s e-purchase portalhttps://bit.ly/3VoABjT

Note this book can be accessed via the subject’s Readings list – with the Library Licence for this text enabling up to 3 students to access the book at the same time.

The second of the subject’s associated textbooks by Grellier, Goerke & Fielding is a potentially useful resource for students who are new to university studies to acquire. This book does an excellent job in providing essential tips with regard to a variety of academic skills and assessment related genres. The referencing details for and an image of this book’s cover are presented below.

Grellier, J., Goerke, V. & Fielding, K. (2022) Communications Toolkit (5th edition). South Melbourne: Cengage Learning Australia

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this book you can do so online using the link to the publisher’s website presented below. Purchases can be made in e- book or hardcopy format both of which are accessible via this link.

https://au.cengage.com/c/communications-toolkit-5e-grellier-goerke-fielding/9780170452052/

Note this book is not available as an E-book via the library as such a licence has not been made available by the publisher. Instead there are a limited number of hardcopies of this book available that can be borrowed from the library.Additional resources that have the capacity to assist you with respect to the subject’s assessment will also be made accessible to you via the subject’s Lib Guide.

1.7   Generative AI Usage

This subject does not require or permit the use of Generative AI tools for the completion of learning activities or assessment.

2 Assessment details

2.1    Key dates

2.2    Requirements for successful completion of this subject

In order to pass this subject, you must:

•  Achieve an overall percentage of 50% or more.

•  Mandatory attendance requirements apply in this subject. A student who fails to attend at least 8 out of 10

Workshops must meet with the Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching and provide evidence as to why they should be permitted to submit the final assessment task.

•  Demonstrate regular attendance and engagement with the content of this subject in accordance with student participation requirements as outlined above, including but not limited to any mandatory face to face

attendance or online session participatory attendance.

•  Demonstrate a reasonable attempt on all assessment items. Students who have completed less than 100% of   the assessment will be subject to review by the College Assessment Committee which could result in failing the Subject (F - Fail).

•  Complete at least 80% of assessment requirements, as listed above.

•  Failure to comply with the above will result in an F (Fail) Result.

Final results for this subject will be graded as described in the Student Results Policy.

Supplementary examinations/supplementary assessments are available for this subject, in accordance with the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Procedure (3.2.10) and the Student Results Policy (2.1).

2.2.1 How do I track my progress in this subject?

In the context of your studies there are two broad categories of feedback that you will be able to access. These being Formative and Summative Feedback.

Formative feedback focuses on your broader understanding of a subject’s content, guidance with respect to your study skills and how to best approach its assessment tasks.

In this subject formative feedback can be obtained via topic related in-class discussions, assignment orientation sessions held during class time, questions that you ask both in class and via email correspondence with your Lecturer / Tutor. Formative feedback can also be obtained via discussions that you engage in with your classmates in which you share your understanding, knowledge and work together to problem solve. Independently formed study groups can act as a useful mechanism via which to participate in and enhance such peer-to-peer learning.

In this subject a key activity that you will complete in the Week 2/3 workshops will involve you learning how to create an annotated bibliography. An annotated bibliography is a means by which students can create useful summaries of sources read as part of preparing to write a research paper. This will be an important learning process and potential source of self/peer reviewed formative feedback as you prepare to complete Assessment Task 1 - the Literature Review.

Summative feedback [also referred to as Direct feedback] is feedback provided in direct response to assessment tasks that you have completed. Summative feedback, as its name implies, is associated with assessment tasks that you complete for which you receive a mark that contributes toward your final grade.

Details with respect to how and when Summative feedback associated with your assessment in this subject is to be provided can be found in Section 2.4 of this document.

2.3   AccessAbility Services and Support

Reasonable adjustments may be made to assist you to manage additional circumstances impacting on your studies provided these do not change the academic integrity of a course. Reasonable adjustments do not alter the need to be able to demonstrate the inherent requirements of the course.

If you believe you will experience challenges completing your subject or course because of a disability, health condition or other reason, you should fill up the Accessibility Intake form (click Forms for Prospective Students to locate this) and submit to the relevant Student Ambassador at JCUS who will be in touch with you.

Your course inherent requirements can be found here Course and Subject Handbook.