Types of Industrial Training

A placement relevant to your program or specialisation in a conventional professional engineering workplace. This is generally where significant technical engineering tasks related to the Engineers Australia (EA) Stage 1 Competencies are undertaken.

• You must undertake at least 30 days of traditional industrial training
• A minimum of 10 days can be counted as one placement
• Be supervised by a qualified Engineer and paid

Traditional Industrial Training can be in the form of:

• Technical engineering tasks
• Engineering-related tasks (office or field-based activities that solve engineering problems)
• Engineering consulting. This includes working for professional engineering service firms who provide independent services, expertise and technical advice
• Industry-based research and development

You must apply for approval as soon as you receive confirmation of an offer.

Required Supporting Documentation

1. Confirmation of employment
2. Job description
3. Proof the placement is paid
4. Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Agreement

At UNSW Engineering, we strongly advise against unpaid industrial training. However, it’s recognised that in some extenuating circumstances, you may not be able to obtain paid industrial training.

A placement relevant to your program or specialisation, in a conventional professional engineering workplace. This is where significant technical engineering tasks related to the Engineers Australia (EA) Stage 1 Competencies are undertaken.

• You’ll only be able to undertake unpaid industrial training for a maximum of 60 working days
• You must undertake at least 30 days of traditional (paid or unpaid) industrial training
• A minimum of 10 days can be counted as one placement
• Be supervised by a qualified Engineer

You must apply for approval as soon as you receive confirmation of an offer.

To pursue unpaid industrial training, you must demonstrate that the role allows you to achieve the learning objectives of industrial training. You must not be completing work that simply assists with the ordinary operation of the business or organisation.

For further information, refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Required Supporting Documentation

1. Confirmation of employment
2. Job description
3. Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Agreement
4. Learning outcomes for Unpaid Industrial Training
5. Engineering Industrial Training Risk Management Form
6. Guide to completing a Risk Management Form

Insurance

You will be informed via email if your placement has been approved. If your employer requires a copy of the UNSW Certificate of Currency for Personnel Accident and Public Liability, they must email unpaidit@unsw.edu.au

• Students are advised to contact UNSW Insurance Department to ensure that you are covered by the correct insurance
• You will be covered for Public Liability and General Personal accident insurance by UNSW.

A non-traditional placement can be a project in a university setting, organised through the university. It can also be a program where you’ll be exposed to engineering related tasks and technical skills. Examples include mentorship, project-based program and immersion experience.

• A maximum of 30 days non-traditional can be counted towards your 60-day industrial training requirement
• Two placements can be undertaken as non-traditional
• A minimum of 5 days can be counted as one placement
• Be supervised by a qualified Engineer

If offered a position for a Non-Traditional industrial training experience, you must apply for approval.

Recommended Non-Traditional placements can be found in the “Careers & Employment Resources” section on the UNSW Engineering Moodle page.

If you’re completing a placement that is considered Non-Traditional and is not on the list that can be accessed in the Faculty of Engineering Moodle page under the “Career & Employment Resources”, you can still apply for Non-Traditional pre-approval. The WIL Industrial Training office and your School Industrial Training Academic Coordinator will determine if the placement is suitable.

The ChallENG Program offers multidisciplinary projects that offer the opportunity to work on an exciting, real-world project. There are opportunities to connect with academics and companies through project-based learning activities.

• The ChallENG Program: Student Projects
• The ChallENG Program: Social Impact

There are also opportunities to undertake UNSW Academic led Internships, as well as Humanitarian Engineering projects with a host organisation.

Required Supporting Documentation

• Acceptance Letter into the recommended Non-Traditional programs listed under the "Careers and Employment" resources on the UNSW Engineering Moodle page

OR

• Acceptance Letter into a Non-Traditional opportunity
• Job/Position description
• WIL Agreement

If your non-traditional placement is unpaid and not listed on the recommended non-traditional programs, you’ll also need to complete the following forms:

• Learning Outcomes for Unpaid Industrial Training
• Engineering Industrial Training Risk Management Form
• Guide to completing a Risk Management Form

Examples and templates for required supporting documentation can be found on the UNSW Engineering Industrial Training page in Moodle.

Confirmation of Employment

A letter, email, or contract from the employer (on company letterhead). Examples are:

1. Offer letter on company letterhead
2. Email offer (email must be from the company email with company logo in the signature)
3. Employment contract

Job Description

A job description is a document that outlines specific activities, tasks, and duties that you’ll be undertaking. This includes design, analysis, and experimental skills that you'll be exposed to during their placement. It should demonstrate that the work you're undertaking is relevant to your engineering degree and allows you to meet Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies.

The job description must be written by the employer. You may also provide a project outline or other information that supports the job description that must be on company letterhead. Or from a company email with the company logo in the signature.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Agreement

The WIL Agreements sets out UNSW WIL core terms. This is to be completed for each placement undertaken and signed by a UNSW authorised office and the Host Organisation.

Learning Objectives for Unpaid Industrial Training

Unpaid industrial training placements require additional documentation to demonstrate that the role allows you to achieve the learning objectives of industrial training and NOT completing work that simply assists with the ordinary operation of the business or organisation.

This form must be completed by you, the student, undertaking the unpaid industrial training placement and your allocated industry supervisor. It’s expected that you and the supervisor will discuss the learning objectives of the placement together and come to an agreement on the learning support and feedback process provided.

Learning outcomes for Unpaid Industrial Training must be completed and signed by you and your workplace supervisor to be included in your approval appllication. 

Risk Management Form for Unpaid Industrial Training

The Engineering Industrial Training Risk Management Form must be completed to identify any potential hazards and control the risk of undertaking a placement. It must be signed by you and your workplace supervisor.

Refer to Guide to completing a Risk Management Form for instructions.

Overseas experience is becoming increasingly attractive to employers and should be something to consider at UNSW Engineering. For overseas opportunities, please be aware that workplace employment laws and safety standards differ from country to country. We believe it’s important to ensure you’ll be adequately supported in your role.

For any placements undertaken overseas, prepare for departure with Global Education and register your travel with International SOS. It is recommended that you check your insurance cover with UNSW Travel Insurance services and arrange any additional travel insurance before you leave Australia.

You must apply for approval for your overseas placement as soon as you receive confirmation of a job offer. Refer to the Types of Industrial Training Required supporting documentation.

Certified Translation of Supporting Documentation

Our UNSW policy is that if your official documents are not in English, you must supply a complete and certified English translation of the original language document.

Visit our documentation webpage to find out more on who can provide certified translation. 

If you’ve completed 60 days of industrial training at a previous institution or worked in industry prior to enrolling at UNSW, you’re eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning. Prior work experience must have been:

• Completed within the last two years prior to commencing your current program of study
• Completed full 60 days
• Relevant to your program of specialisation
• Supervised by a qualified Engineer

To apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, email eng.wil@unsw.edu.au.

Required Supporting Documentation

The supporting documentation is evidence of prior experience and shows that the prior experience is relevant to the student’s area of study and exposed to engineering technical skills.

• Letter of offer for employment on company letterhead (email correspondence with the company logo in the signature is acceptable)
• Employment contract
• Pay slips or confirmation of days worked from the Employer on company letterhead (email correspondence with the company logo in the signature is acceptable)
• Job description
• Academic Transcript – only if prior experience was completed as Industrial Training from previous institution

Certified Translation of Supporting Documentation

Our UNSW policy is that if your official documents are not in English, you must supply a complete and certified English translation of the original language document.

Visit our documentation webpage to find out more about who can provide certified translation.