Scope of Study

VCE Industry and Enterprise investigates work and its place in work settings, industries and society. The study explores the vocational, economic, social and cultural aspects of work and incorporates theoretical and practical investigations of these functions.

Students examine trends and patterns in Australian workplaces and industries as well as significant issues affecting Australian industries and analyse industry responses to these issues.

VCE Industry and Enterprise provides students the opportunity to develop both personal and work-related skills through structured workplace learning. It encourages students to develop appropriate attitudes and behaviour allowing them to recognise opportunity, manage risks and mobilise resources in relation to community and work settings.

Aims

This study enables students to:

• understand, develop and demonstrate work-related skills in order to participate effectively within local and global settings

• develop personal career goals and pathways

• use experience from appropriate community and/or work settings to develop personal values in relation to work

• develop individual enterprising behaviour in personal, work, social and community settings

• consider the extent and importance of recent innovation in Australian industry

• consider the development of enterprise culture in community and/or work settings and its potential impact on Australian industry

• develop an informed view about changes occurring in Australian industry with reference to emerging issues, new perspectives and future challenges which have a direct impact on work.

This unit prepares students for effective workplace participation. An exploration of the importance of work-related skills is integral to this unit. Students develop work-related skills by actively exploring personal career goals and pathways. They observe industry and employment trends and analyse current and future work options.

Students develop work-related skills that assist in dealing with issues commonly affecting participants in the workplace. Students examine the diverse contexts in which work takes place in Australian society by investigating a range of work settings. They investigate job tasks and processes in work settings, as well as entry-level requirements for work in selected industries.

Students research work-related issues, and consider strategies to develop interpersonal skills and effective communication to deal with a selected issue.

Area of Study 1: Contributing to the workforce

In this area of study students learn about the importance of a skilled workforce to both Australian society and to the economy. They develop an understanding of career pathway concepts, especially career development and lifelong learning. Students begin to lay the foundations for the development of work-related skills by actively exploring their own individual career goals and pathways, and develop techniques that assist them to find suitable work opportunities. Students investigate the nature of work by analysing industry and employment trends, as well as current and future work options

Outcome 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain the importance to Australia of having a skilled workforce, investigate career pathways and analyse current and future work options.

Area of Study 2: Developing work-related skills

This area of study introduces students to a range of work settings in Australian society. Work in the context of this study includes all paid and unpaid work.

Building on the notion that work is an important productive and social activity, students research and report on different work settings. They investigate job tasks and processes in work settings, as well as the entry-level requirements associated with commencement of work in selected industries. Students research and develop self- assessment tools to use to reflect on their performance during their structured work placement.

Outcome 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain entry-level requirements for obtaining work in two selected industries, discuss the importance of developing personal work-related skills, and conduct a self-assessment to gauge personal work performance.

Area of Study 3: Workplace effectiveness

An important aspect of achieving success as an employee in the workplace is the ability to develop and apply strategies to deal effectively with common workplace issues.

Students research work-related issues concerned with the basic rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, including OH&S requirements for specific workplaces, the role of unions in the workplace and equal employment opportunity. They consider strategies to develop work-related skills and investigate how these skills and strategies can be utilised to deal effectively with a work-related issue.

Outcome 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain the OH&S requirements and one other work-related issue for a selected occupation in a specific workplace, and discuss ways in which work-related skills may be used to deal with that issue.

Assessment Tasks

Suitable tasks for assessment in this unit will be selected from the following:

• a workplace journal or report based on participation in structured workplace learning

• an enterprise project and activity evaluation

• a career investigation and profile

• a curriculum vitae presented in a digital format

• a work-related skills portfolio including a critically reflective self-assessment

• a short written report (media analysis, research inquiry, case study analysis)

• a video or podcast

• a written blog

• an ICT-based presentation

• an essay

• structured questions.

In this unit students explore the development of enterprising behaviour, leadership and innovation in different workplace settings and in the context of significant issues faced by industry.

Students develop their understanding of how enterprising and leadership behaviour is vital for success in a range of personal, social, community and work settings. All work settings exist within a wider industry context and ongoing workplace enterprise and innovation are pivotal to industry success. Students investigate the characteristics and qualities of successful entrepreneurs in different settings, and investigate the relationship between leadership behaviour and the development of an individual’s work-related skills.

As part of a wider industry investigation, students consider the characteristics of a selected industry and evaluate the extent to which enterprising behaviour is applied in selected work settings within this industry. They also explore the role of work-related skills in supporting innovation in this industry.

Globalisation, technological change, environmental issues and other significant issues are having an impact on Australian industry. Students analyse the impact of one significant issue on an Australian industry and consider how the industry has responded in an enterprising way.

Area of Study 1: Enterprising individuals and leadership

In this area of study students examine the relationship between enterprising behaviour and leadership demonstrated by individuals in different settings.

Students investigate the characteristics and qualities of enterprising individuals and analyse strategies for developing enterprising behaviour in personal, social, community and work settings. They consider the characteristics of leadership and examine the relationship between enterprising behaviour and leadership in personal, social, community and work settings.

Outcome 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to identify and discuss enterprising behaviour in individuals and explain the relationship between enterprising behaviour and leadership.

Area of Study 2: Enterprise and innovation in industry

This area of study investigates the wider industry environment in which workplaces operate. Students consider the characteristics of a selected industry, including its classification, key stakeholders and major trends, using statistics where appropriate.

Students analyse and evaluate the extent to which enterprising behaviour is applied in selected work settings within an industry and identify the characteristics of innovation. They explore the relationship between enterprise and innovation in work settings within an industry and examine the role of work-related skills in supporting innovation in the industry

Outcome 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain what innovation is, describe the characteristics of a selected industry, evaluate the extent to which enterprising behaviour is applied in selected work settings within the selected industry, and explain the role of work-related skills in supporting innovation in the selected industry.

Area of Study 3: Industry issues

Students undertake an investigation of two significant issues facing Australian industry which have had an impact in the last four years. Teachers may select any of the following significant issues for investigation: globalisation and international competitiveness, use of technology, free-trade agreements, skills shortages, social and environmental issues or any other current issue relevant to Australian workplaces.

Students consider the impact of the selected issues on industry, and the changing role of industry stakeholders in relation to these issues. They explore how industry has responded in an enterprising way to the selected issues and the importance of work-related skills in formulating and enabling this response.

Outcome 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse the impact of two significant issues on an Australian industry within the last four years and discuss how the industry has responded to the issues in an enterprising way.

Assessment Tasks

Suitable tasks for assessment in this unit will be selected from the following:

• a workplace journal or report based on participation in structured workplace learning

• an enterprise project and activity evaluation

• a career investigation and profile

• a curriculum vitae presented in a digital format

• a work-related skills portfolio including a critically reflective self-assessment

• a short written report (media analysis, research inquiry, case study analysis)

• a video or podcast

• a written blog

• an ICT-based presentation

• an essay

• structured questions.

For more information about VCE Vocational Major, see Adrian Panckhurst