PACE: Professional Learning in the Clinical Sciences
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Program Overview
MEDI3401 PACE: Professional Learning in the Clinical Sciences
Unit Description
This unit is the capstone unit within the Bachelor of Clinical Science. It prepares students to become lifelong learners in a connected world and take responsibility for their learning and professional development needs. The unit adopts an enactivism approach, where students learn to identify learning opportunities as they arise in work or life situations and take appropriate actions. The unit provides a work-integrated learning experience in a health-related context, with placement undertaken chosen from a range of settings.
General Information
- Unit Convenor and Teaching Staff: Shu Yang
- Credit Points: 10
- Prerequisites: 140cp at 1000 level or above including ((MEDI103 or MEDI1400) and (MEDI206 or MEDI2400))
- Corequisites: None
- Co-badged Status: HLTH3050
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Effectively communicate their professional capabilities to potential colleagues and employers.
- Identify further developmental needs and implement appropriate lifelong learning strategies to meet them.
- Reflect on the process of the placement and the learning experience.
- Apply knowledge and employ effective presentation techniques to develop and present a career-focused professional portfolio.
General Assessment Information
- Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.
- All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.
- To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.
- Students will be required to complete the 70-hour placement to meet the unit learning outcomes.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover Letter | 15% | No | 22/08/2025 |
| Graduation Portfolio | 45% | No | 10/10/2025 |
| Placement Reflection | 40% | No | During week 12 and 13 |
Cover Letter
- Assessment Type: Professional writing
- Indicative Time on Task: 8 hours
- Due: 22/08/2025
- Weighting: 15% Students will develop a cover letter to address a specific role and identify personal skills that align with the Graduate Capabilities.
Graduation Portfolio
- Assessment Type: Portfolio
- Indicative Time on Task: 23 hours
- Due: 10/10/2025
- Weighting: 45% Students will develop a graduation portfolio that demonstrates attainment of graduate capabilities through submission of reflections.
Placement Reflection
- Assessment Type: Viva/oral examination
- Indicative Time on Task: 21 hours
- Due: During week 12 and 13
- Weighting: 40% In this assessment, students will provide to the examiner a copy of their PACE placement logbook and an overview and reflection on their PACE placement.
Delivery and Resources
As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including lectures, workshops, and online modules. The work-integrated learning placement accounts for the majority of the contact hours within this unit.
Unit Schedule
| Topic/Theme | Learning Activities |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to unit and employability skills |
| Week 2 | Navigate the health and clinical science job market |
| Week 3 | Cover letter clinic |
| Week 4 | Interview skills workshop |
| Week 5 | Crafting Your Resume and Professional Brand |
| Week 6 | Project management principles |
| Week 7 | BYO Project management workshop |
| Week 8 | Drop-in and revision of reflection principles |
| Week 9 | Peer/self-reflection and Drop-In Support |
| Week 10 | Peer/self-Reflection and Drop-In Support |
| Week 11 | Peer/self-Reflection and Drop-In Support |
| Week 12 | PACE reflection viva |
| Week 13 | PACE reflection viva |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Changes from Previous Offering
AT1 Participatory task and AT 3 Video Pitch are now removed to accommodate the new Curriculum architecture and assessment principles (Dec 2024). The PACE reflection essay is now changed to PACE placement Viva to allow students to communicate their participation, and reflection upon participation, in the PACE placement.
Inclusions and Diversity
Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life, and flourish in their chosen field.
Professionalism
In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all courses. As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions, including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities.