Work-Integrated-Learning for an ICT Career

Dr. Dale MacKrell, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, University of Canberra, will speak on "ICT Career Progression" at the Australian Computer Society meeting in Canberra, 3 July 2012.

Branch Forum
ICT Career Progression

In this session, Dale will outline some of the work integrated learning (WIL) units offered in the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering (ISE) at the University of Canberra, in particular the Internship program which is now well established. In that context, there will be a discussion of issues of equity and diversity.

In 2010, a WIL project was begun by Craig McDonald and Jennifer Bradley. It involved the mapping of ISE core units in three main undergraduate (UG) courses against identified IT occupational skills and also the SFIA (Skills Framework for the Information Age) workplace skill categories. SFIA is a common reference model for describing IT practitioners’ occupational skills. The purpose of this WIL project is to provide a clearer understanding of ISE study pathways to IT career roles and to assist in the Australian Computer Society (ACS) accreditation process for 2012, which is underway. Progress in this project will be outlined as well.

Biography: Dr. Dale MacKrell

Assistant Professor (Information Systems), Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering, University of Canberra

This year, Dale took on the role of Internship Convenor in the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering at the University of Canberra. This has provided her with insight into work integrated learning and the value of preparing students for the workplace. One of her other areas of teaching is Business Intelligence. Again, there are benefits from inviting practitioners into the lecture theatre, not only for students but for industry.

Dale came to the University of Canberra just over two years ago. She has been an academic for a decade after completing a commerce degree, a masters degree and a PhD at Griffith University in Brisbane. Her research areas include the adoption and use of agricultural decision support systems in the Australian cotton industry especially by women farmers, research into the readiness of organisations in the not-for-profit sector for advanced technologies, as well as the academic preparation and expectations of graduates.

Date: Tuesday 3rd July 2012
Time: 4:45pm registration for 5:15pm start to 6:45pm