Formal learning within a community of practice

Abstract

The Undergraduate Site Learning Program (USLP) has pioneered the integration of technical skills and broader generic attributes in engineering graduates. With site learning, the students spend 12 weeks on-site and simultaneously engage in the same syllabus as their peers who are on-campus. The USLP benefits all stakeholders - the students (both on-campus and on-site), the staff at the placement sites and the academics at UQ. Commencing in 2000, the USLP has made 36 placements, at 21 sites (including 2 international sites) in 12 organizations and across 7 engineering disciplines. The success of this program lies with the alignment of learning objectives to work tasks.