The Bachelor of Engineering(Hons), Bachelor of Engineering (Hons)/Master of Engineering and Master of Engineering program rules state that: A student must—

  • (a) complete 450 hours of professional practice approved by the Executive Dean; and
  • (b) satisfactorily complete assessment pertaining to thatprofessional practice as determined by the Executive Dean.

You are required to submit five (5) reflections where you reflect on your professional development and communicate these learnings in a written form. Reflections may be completed during and/or after your professional practice activities.

Within each reflection, you are required to:

  1. Choose one (1) of the sixteen (16) Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies. Please note that out of the five (5) reflections at least four (4) reflections must be from sections two (2) and three (3) of the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies. Each reflection must address a different competency.
  2. Identify one or more learning events that you have encountered whilst undertaking your 450 hours of professional practice. When identifying your learning event(s), think about all the things you have done in your professional practice activities and decide which of those things have helped you understand better or helped you do a better job as a professional engineer.
  3. Discuss the learning event(s) you have identified with reference to the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency you have chosen. Use the SEAL Reflection Framework for your discussion (300 words per reflection).

4. How should I write this?

Reflections are personal so your writing should be relaxed and conversational as opposed to the more formal style ofa cademic writing. Give examples or evidence to show on which basis you believe your statements to be true. Reflection is an exploration and an explanation of events – not just a description of them.

Reflective writing often involves ‘revealing’ anxieties, errors and weaknesses, as well as strengths and successes. This is fine as long as you show some understanding of possible causes, and explain how you plan to improve. It is necessary to select just the most significant parts of the event or idea on which you are reflecting. It is often useful to ‘reflect forward’ to the future as well as ‘reflecting back’ on the past. Use the SEAL framework below to ensure that you demonstrate development of each competency as per the following example.