Work-integrated learning (WIL), also known as placement or professional practice, is a student experience that applies academic learning in ‘real life’ situations, within industry or supported by an organisation. During this experience students can gain practical skills, develop competency and knowledge within their discipline.
Students may attend structured placement for a nominated time frame or partake in an internship to fulfil course related WIL requirements. An organisation may provide a project for a student group to work on. These opportunities, placements and projects can be linked with units of study and apply toward course credit.
Please contact our placement team at fst-placements@cdu.edu.au to discuss or plan becoming a host organisation for student placements or projects.
Information for international students – placement/internship subjects
Hours worked for placement/internship subjects undertaken as electives will count towards your student visa work hour limits.
Hours worked for placement/internship subjects which are a mandatory requirement of your course will not count towards your student visa work hour limits.
To confirm whether your course has a registered work component, please check the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
CDU Engineering courses with mandatory work component requirements include:
Course Details - Charles Darwin University (CDU) - Master of Engineering (education.gov.au)
Engineering and Environment Careers Fair for students
Each year, we host an employer's Careers Fair, focusing on engineering and environment graduate opportunities. Careers fair is attended by government agencies, multinational companies, and local companies. Representatives come to Casuarina campus and set up a space to showcase their employment opportunities.
This is an opportunity for the students close to graduating to attend the fair with copies of their CVs and liaise with industry about job opportunities. If you are interested, then contact us at fst-placements@cdu.edu.au
Overseas based placement or WIL experience
The placement process for overseas-based Engineering students is guided by - Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (teqsa.gov.au)
'There is a myriad of potential risks in WIL. A higher education provider should assess and mitigate potential risks to the student experience before undertaking each arrangement. Developing good practice in WIL is also a dynamic field of educational research and practice, and TEQSA will not stand in the way of innovative arrangements, providing that they safeguard the quality of the student experience.’
Overseas-based students have the below WIL options:
- Placement is undertaken as an independent arrangement between the student and the organisation in accordance with locally recognised standards. This may not be covered by CDU insurance. An in-depth assessment of all risks is required before being approved by the Faculty.
- Relevant work experience, paid or voluntary, in the past two years.
- Provision of an external project is allowed (where possible).
- Work experience that can be observed by a Liaison Lecturer (where established).
- Alternate activities as outlined in the unit of study.
Professional practice manual - Engineering
A professional practice experience program manual has been developed for work-integrated learning relating to engineering. The manual is intended to support the University’s aim of providing work-integrated learning opportunities for its courses and to provide a systematic and comprehensive framework for the development and operation. Work-integrated learning is an intentional, organised, supervised, and assessed educational activity that integrates theoretical learning with its applications in the placement.
For general information about this placement, view the Engineering professional practice manual.
Placements starter package for industries
- Current insurance documents. The operations team can help when updates are needed.
- Unit outlines for IPM202, IPM303, IPM304 and PRT501
- Professional Experience Partnership Agreement
- EA Stage 1 Competency Standard Professional Engineer
- EA Stage 1 Competency Standard for Engineering Technologists
- Alternate Activities outline
- FST Student Placement Deed Poll
- Professional Practice Manual.
IPM202, IPM303, IPM304 and PRT501 students are covered by university insurance during placement. Be sure to exchange insurance documents with the organisation. Confirmed that coverage is current, not applied, but secured as confirmation of the organisation's integrity. Store in InPlace.
Keys to finding placement – professional experience
Placement, what is it?
- Experience that enhances the development of the student and the placement organisation.
- Opportunity to share knowledge, ideas, and learning.
- Supports the purpose of this unit of study, which is to help you become more career-ready and employable.
- Face-to-face work experience.
- Industry or community partnership.
- Voluntary/unpaid or paid.
- Insurance coverage for students is provided by the University when a placement opportunity is arranged by the Faculty Support Officer.
Other terms sometimes applied: Internship, cadetship or vacation program
Who provides the placement?
- NT Government will have cadetships via DIPL.
- Regional councils.
- Large and small industries.
- Consultancy.
- Defence installations.
- Community services.
Depending on personnel and resources, an organisation will offer up to 450 hours of placement.
When do placements start?
Traditionally, placement is attended after the semester during the break, December – March.
- 14 weeks within this time frame allows a two-week break. Twelve weeks of experience is possible. This is at a full-time workload.
- Some organisations offer part-time placements throughout the year, negotiated with the student.
Placement can form all or part of the 450 hours of professional experience. Placement is the preferred mode of experience, but not the only means to accumulate required hours.
Placement opportunities
The Faculty Support Officer can assist with sourcing placement opportunities.
- Offered only to students enrolled in units: IPM202, IMP303, IPM304 and PRT501.
- Promoted via the Learnline unit announcements platform.
- Will be voluntary unless stated otherwise.
How to apply for a placement
- Follow the guidance from CDU Careers Centre on resumes and cover letters.
- Upload these into your Learnline assessments.
- When a ‘Placement opportunity’ announcement appears, advise the FST Support Officer of your interest via the fst-placements@cdu.edu.au email. You may also attach a specific cover letter.
Apply within two weeksof the announcement.
- Sign and upload the student agreement in the Assignments section of the unit.
What if I am not placed? Do I need placement?
Relevant work experience in the past two years can be applied to your work report. For example, if you intending to lodge your report in March 2023, review all your work-related experience back until March 2021.
Start now accumulating your history of alternate activities. Do an inventory of episodes you could reflect upon and plan more for the next six months.
Look for group activities/projects to join or make a group that meets regularly.
Professional Experience Student Agreement/Student Placement Deed Poll
The Charles Darwin University (CDU) Faculty of Science and Technology student must read, sign and return this agreement. The agreement will apply to units of study where professional experience, including field trips and work placement are undertaken. The agreement will be uploaded into your student record before professional experience can be organised or attended.
Professional Experience Partnership Agreement
The purpose of this agreement is to clarify the expectations, roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders to provide high quality professional experiences for Engineering students. Collaboration between key stakeholders, including the organisation, Charles Darwin University and the Engineering student is crucial to the success of the partnership and placement experience of the student.