Overview
In this unit, you will explore the role of engineers in the context of sustainable engineering design and practice. In a team, you will be required to research issues, evaluate the quality of the information obtained and prepare reports on an issue involving sustainable development and practice. You will develop communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which will assist you to function effectively in the engineering workplace and as collaborative learners. In this unit, you must complete compulsory practical activities. Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for proposed dates.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Discussion with students
Ensure teaching materials remain current and engaging.
Teaching materials should be reviewed to reflect current affairs. Particularly in the Australian mining/regional sector, as a large proportion of the student cohort currently works in this area.
- Develop an understanding of the challenges and opportunities with sustainable development and assess current applications in engineering practice
- Investigate and discuss the interdependence of sustainable development and ethics in professional engineering practice
- Identify appropriate sources of information, research an issue and evaluate the quality of the information obtained
- Prepare technical reports and presentations to communicate the results and limitations of investigations
- Demonstrate effective teamwork and communication skills by supporting collaborative problem solving and learning
- Demonstrate effective time, team and project management skills.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 35% | ||||||
| 4 - Peer assessment - 5% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
Engineering Your Future: An Australasian Guide, 4th Edition
- Edition: 4th (2019)
- Authors: David Dowling, Roger Hadgraft, Anna Carew, Tim McCarthy, Doug Hargreaves, Caroline Baillie, Sally Male
- Wiley
- ISBN: 978-0-730-36919-6
- Binding: eBook
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.skipper@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024Module/Topic
- Introduction to the unit.
- Teaching Team Contacts and how to communicate with lecturers and fellow classmates.
- Overview of assessments and submission dates.
- Learning Resources - information on weekly Zoom tutorial and residential school timetable. Information on unit textbook and Moodle resources.
- Introduction to the Academic Learning Centre.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Commence Assessment 1 (Reflective paper-Who is an Engineering Associate)
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024Module/Topic
- What is engineering and what is the role of an engineer and engineering associate.
- Introduction to various engineering disciplines.
- Discussion of assessment 1. Introduction to reflective writing and why mastering the skill of reflection is important for engineers.
Chapter
Text book: Chapter 1 – What is engineering (The Engineers Australia Competency framework section 1.3)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024Module/Topic
- Introduce Engineers Australia.
- Introduce and review the stage 1 competencies for an Engineering Associate.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential school to be held as an online session on Saturday 23th March 2023 between 9am and 1pm.
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024Module/Topic
- What is sustainable engineering and why is it important.
- Frameworks for sustainable development.
Chapter
Textbook: Chapter 3 - Sustainable Engineering
Events and Submissions/Topic
Commence Assessment 2 (Sustainable Development Critique)
Assessment 1- Reflective Paper: Who is an Engineering Associate Due: Week 4 Tuesday (26 Mar 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Assessment 1- Reflective Paper: Who is an Engineering Associate Due: Week 4 Tuesday (26 Mar 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 5
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024Module/Topic
- How to apply various methods of assessment to determine the sustainability of a solution.
- Improving information literacy and identifying reputable sources of information.
Chapter
Textbook: Chapter 9 – Understanding the Problem
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Use this time catch up or look ahead at topics.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024Module/Topic
- Review various examples of engineering projects and processes
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024Module/Topic
- Understanding the engineering method.
Chapter
Textbook: Chapter 2 – The Engineering Method
Events and Submissions/Topic
Commence Assessment 3 (Feasibility Report)
Assessment 2 - Sustainable Development Critique Due: Week 7 Tuesday (23 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Assessment 2 - Sustainable Development Critique Due: Week 7 Tuesday (23 Apr 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024Module/Topic
- Effective communication for reports and presentations.
- Writing and structuring a feasibility report.
Chapter
Textbook: Chapter 7 and 8 – Understanding communication and communication skills
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 06 May 2024Module/Topic
- Introducing the Engineers Australia Code of Ethics.
- Understanding the professional responsibility of engineers and working as a team
Chapter
Textbook: Chapter 4 – Professional Responsibility and Ethics
Textbook: Chapter 6 - Collaborating with others
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 13 May 2024Module/Topic
- What is a risk assessment
Chapter
Textbook: Chapter 13.3 - Develop a risk-management plan for a project
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 20 May 2024Module/Topic
- Review of unit.
- Examples of feasibility studies
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 27 May 2024Module/Topic
- Revision and where to from here - your onward learning journey
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Commence Assessment 4 - SPA
Assessment 4 - Self and Peer Assessment Due: Week 12 Friday (31 May 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Assessment 4 - Self and Peer Assessment Due: Week 12 Friday (31 May 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3- Team Feasibility Report Due: Review/Exam Week Tuesday (4 June 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Assessment 3- Team Feasibility Report Due: Review/Exam Week Tuesday (4 June 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
This term we will have a mandatory online residential school on Saturday 23rd March 2023.
Please make yourselves available between 9am and 1pm. We will use this opportunity to meet your peers, discover more about the practicalities and assistance available whilst studying at CQU and meet the Academic Learning Centre Staff.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me on 0467 975 835 or c.skipper@cqu.edu.au.
If I am unavailable, please leave a message and I will get back to you as promptly as I can.
Looking forward to a great year! Claire
1 Written Assessment
Prepare a typed Reflective Paper by studying the resources provided for this assignment on Moodle. You will need to become familiar with the Reflective Writing Guide to ensure your paper articulates reflective thoughts rather than just restating the resources provided. There is not a strict word limit, either minimum or maximum, but you should be able to prepare approximately two to three pages for this assignment.
Week 4 Tuesday (26 Mar 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 6 Tuesday (16 Apr 2024)
A Marking Rubric is provided on Moodle that includes indicators of attainment at the ‘Sound’, ‘Good’ and ‘Excellent’ level for each component of the assignment
- Investigate and discuss the interdependence of sustainable development and ethics in professional engineering practice
2 Written Assessment
Prepare a typed critique on the topic of sustainable development. For the written report submission, you must define what sustainable development is, identify a suitable engineering project or process and critique it. You will identify opportunities and barriers for the sustainability of this practice. You will need to correctly reference your information sources and ensure that your information is reputable. There is not a strict word limit, either minimum or maximum, but you should prepare approximately three to four pages for this assignment.
Week 7 Tuesday (23 Apr 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Tuesday (7 May 2024)
A Marking Rubric is provided on Moodle that includes indicators of attainment at the ‘Sound’, ‘Good’ and ‘Excellent’ level for each component of the assignment.
- Develop an understanding of the challenges and opportunities with sustainable development and assess current applications in engineering practice
- Investigate and discuss the interdependence of sustainable development and ethics in professional engineering practice
- Identify appropriate sources of information, research an issue and evaluate the quality of the information obtained
- Prepare technical reports and presentations to communicate the results and limitations of investigations
3 Presentation and Written Assessment
In your team, prepare a typed Feasibility Report for promoting sustainable development. Using the individual critiques of sustainable development completed by your team members in Assignment 2, decide on an engineering project or process to investigate further. You should explore options to increase the sustainability of this practice by using the 'engineering method' to problem solve any opportunities or barriers to sustainable development. You will need to become familiar with the report template provided on Moodle. There is not a strict word limit, either minimum or maximum, but the main body of your report should be approximately five to six pages to sufficiently examine key aspects of this practice.
Review/Exam Week Tuesday (4 June 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Tuesday (11 June 2024)
A Marking Rubric is provided on Moodle that includes indicators of attainment at the ‘Sound’, ‘Good’ and ‘Excellent’ level for each component of the assignment.
- Develop an understanding of the challenges and opportunities with sustainable development and assess current applications in engineering practice
- Identify appropriate sources of information, research an issue and evaluate the quality of the information obtained
- Prepare technical reports and presentations to communicate the results and limitations of investigations
- Demonstrate effective teamwork and communication skills by supporting collaborative problem solving and learning
- Demonstrate effective time, team and project management skills.
4 Peer assessment
Complete a self and peer assessment quiz by answering 9 questions about your own and your team mates performance.
Week 12 Friday (31 May 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday (31 May 2024)
You will recieve an automatically generated summary
This will assess your reliability and conduct as a team member.
- Demonstrate effective teamwork and communication skills by supporting collaborative problem solving and learning
- Demonstrate effective time, team and project management skills.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
