Overview
In this unit, you will engage with a complex, real world problem that crosses disciplinary boundaries. You will use a systems engineering approach to explore stakeholder needs and to write a set of requirements. In approaching the design task, you will need to balance technical, economic, social and environmental issues and constraints. At the heart of such problem solving is teamwork, communication, knowledge management and evaluation using sustainability principles.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
At least 48 uc of the Master of Engineering complete
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 2 - 2017
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 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 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.
- Show evidence of grappling with complex issues through stakeholder engagement
- Develop a set of stakeholder requirements
- Apply a systematic design process (systems engineering) to develop solutions to an issue
- Demonstrate self-awareness of thinking processes and values, including socio-ecological thinking and uncertainty
- Develop and pitch a change proposal
- Reflect on the contribution of this project to professional development
The learning outcomes are linked to Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 100% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||||
| 4 - Research | ||||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 100% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Sustainability Principles and Practice
Edition: First (2014)
Authors: Margaret Robertson
Routledge (Taylor and Francis Group)
Abingdon Abingdon , Oxon , UK
ISBN: 978-0-415-84018-7
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
eBook is available from the publisher (ISBN: 978-0-203-76874-7)
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.
m.nabi@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
General overview of the unit
What is sustainability?
Challenges and responses
Sustainability as a discipline
Is Earth warming?
How temperature records are compiled
Modern climate change and greenhouse gases
The human factor
Projecting into the future
Chapter
1 and 6
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students will think on different sustainability projects. Team will be formed and each team will contain 4/5 students. Team will understand the project problems, identify research question, prepare project plan, set aims, objectives and develop methodology.
Module/Topic
Sustainability at work
Sustainability initiatives
Measurement and reporting
Air pollution
Soil and land pollution
Water pollution
Pollution remediation and prevention
Chapter
5 and 9
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
You will think about how to write a reflective paper (RP).
Your first reflective paper (RP1) will be on a topic of an issue of sustainability, one with which you are familiar. Recognise the problem and suggest a probable solution. In the RP1, provide a list of the stakeholders, their requirements and roles.
The RP1 links to the learning outcomes (LO)1 and LO2.
Module/Topic
Uneven distribution of water
Depletion of nonrenewable aquifers
Threats to human and ecosystem health
Consumption
Effects of climate change
Water conservation
Wastewater treatment
Storm water
Chapter
7
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team project presentation.
Team will present their project proposals with clear objectives, scopes, methodology, expected outcomes and Gantt chart.
Date of presentation: First Workshop day of Week 3.
Each presentation is to be 15 minutes followed by 5 minutes for questions and changeover. Presentation schedule will be provided.
Individual RP1:
Due: Friday (Week 3, 28 July 2017) by 11.45 PM (AEST).
Module/Topic
Ecosystems and habitat-introduction
Populations and extinction
Drivers of ecosystem change
Conservation and restoration
Conservation
Restoration ecology
Living together-reconciliation ecology
Chapter
8
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team work on their project proposal based on the feedback of their presentation.
Each Team will submit a project proposal.
Due: Friday (Week 4, 4 Aug 2017) by 11.45 PM (AEST).
Module/Topic
Why study living systems?
Energy and matter
The four spheres
The biosphere
What is life?
Gaia: earth systems science
Systems
Chapter
3
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Think about writing a reflective paper (RP2) that includes a solution of a sustainable issue by applying systematic design processes utilising engineering tools and techniques. In the writing, include self-awareness of thinking processes and values pertaining to the socio-ecological thinking and uncertainty.
You will submit a RP2 that links to the LO3 and LO4.
Module/Topic
Vacation week
Chapter
Vacation week
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation week
Module/Topic
Traditional fossil fuels
Alternative/sustainable/renewable energy: solar, solar photovoltaic panels, wave and tidal, hydro, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas
Alternative energy for transportation
Energy efficiency
Measuring energy efficiency
Improving energy efficiency performance
Chapter
10
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team continue to work on their project.
Individual RP2:
Due: Friday (Week 6, 25 Aug 2017) by 11.45 PM (AEST).
Module/Topic
What is a green building?
The process of green building design
Building envelope
Lighting
Passive heating and cooling
Heating
Cooling
Ventilation
Construction
Sustainable sites
Chapter
11
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team work on their project issues and challenges. Try to find out more than one solution by designing, modelling etc and pick the best one. This part of your project work also links to the LO3.
Module/Topic
Introduction to livable cities
Sprawl
Land use planning
Urban planning
Building community
Transportation
Cities and climate change
Chapter
12
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team work on their project draft reports
Module/Topic
Design for the environment
Industrial ecology
Process design
Product alternatives
Product design
Shipping and packaging
ISO 14000 standards
Certification and labels
Eco-labels
Chapter
14
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
You will now think to write another reflective paper (RP3) that addresses a changed proposal for the solution of the issue of sustainability. In the RP3, you also need to mention how your project contributes to self and professional development.
The RP3 links to the LO5 and LO6.
Team project draft report submission.
Due: Friday (Week 9, 15 Sep 2017) by 11.45 PM (AEST).
Module/Topic
Farming methods
Human health issues
Planetary health issues
Feeding ourselves
Finding space for food in the city
Food on public land
Healthy soil
Chapter
13
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Individual RP3:
Due: Friday (Week 10, 22 Sep 2017) by 11.45 PM (AEST).
Team will wrap up their projects.
Module/Topic
Waste management
Landfills
Incineration
Recycling
Construction and demolition waste
Industrial waste
Zero waste
Chapter
15
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team final project report submission.
Due: Friday (Week 11, 29 Sep 2017) by 11.45 PM (AEST).
Module/Topic
Review class
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team final project presentation.
Team will finally present their projects with project topics, objectives, scopes, methodology, results, discussion and conclusion.
Final presentation Due: First Workshop day of Week 12.
Each presentation is to be 15 minutes followed by 5 minutes for questions and changeover. Presentation schedule will be provided.
Portfolio Due: Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Portfolio
Assessment of this unit is based on submission of a portfolio that contains evidence of all (i.e. individual reflective paper, and team project work and presentation) works that the student has completed throughout the term. The portfolio should demonstrate how the learning outcomes have been met and to what level, and be presented in the form of a technical report that includes a table of contents section.
Compulsory items
The team project must be handed in and considered acceptable by the unit coordinator for the team members to be eligible to be graded at the end of the term. Project requirements completed satisfactorily and submitted after the due date may be accepted but the final grade may be affected. In addition to the project report, each team must do a presentation and each member must be present to answer the questions following the presentation. Omission of any of the following items from the portfolio may affect the Final Grade:
1. Individual grade nomination
2. Individual reflective papers
3. Self and peer assessment (SPA)
4. Work book
Individual Viva Voce
Following the submission of the Portfolio, each student may need to attend a viva voce where they will be expected to defend the claims made in their Portfolio against each learning outcome. An unsatisfactory performance in the viva voce may affect the Final Grade.
Individual grade nomination
The individual grade nomination is the grade the student considers should be awarded based on the Assessment Criteria. This must be clearly corroborated with supporting evidence. Students will need to demonstrate how they have met each of the learning outcomes for the unit by referring to evidence in their portfolio.
Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Online
Within 2 weeks
You must provide evidence of your achievement of each of the Learning Outcomes.
There is an Assessment Criteria sheet for this unit available on the unit website. The Assessment Criteria sheet gives guidance regarding the type of evidence required for each level of achievement. It is important that you review the Criteria sheet at the beginning of the term so you are familiar with the evidence you need to collect throughout the term. There are minimum requirements for the Portfolio and you must provide evidence of the minimum requirements in order to be eligible for a passing grade for this unit.
- Show evidence of grappling with complex issues through stakeholder engagement
- Develop a set of stakeholder requirements
- Apply a systematic design process (systems engineering) to develop solutions to an issue
- Demonstrate self-awareness of thinking processes and values, including socio-ecological thinking and uncertainty
- Develop and pitch a change proposal
- Reflect on the contribution of this project to professional development
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
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?
