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 - 2019
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.
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 Unit Coordinator reflection
A lecture from the Melbourne campus should be held.
It is recommended that one lecture should be delivered from CQU Melbourne campus in every offering.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator reflection and student interactions
There was a guest lecturer for two hours from the industry.
There should be two guest lectures in this unit. This will be helpful for the student to know the real-world sustainability issues and their solutions, as well as, earning 4 hours for their CPD 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
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: Second (2014)
Authors: Margaret Robertson
Routledge
New York New York , NY , USA
ISBN: 978-0-415-84017-0
Binding: eBook
Sustainability Principles and Practice
Edition: Second (2014)
Authors: Margaret Robertson
Routledge
New York New York , NY , USA
ISBN: 978-0-415-84017-0
Binding: Hardcover
An Introduction to Sustainability
Edition: Second (2018)
Authors: Martin Mulligan
Routledge
New York New York , NY , USA
ISBN: 978-1-138-69829-1
Binding: eBook
An Introduction to Sustainability
Edition: Second (2018)
Authors: Martin Mulligan
Routledge
New York New York , NY , USA
ISBN: 978-1-138-69829-1
Binding: Hardcover
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Design
Edition: First (2015)
Authors: Scott Grinnell
Cengage Learning
ISBN: 978-1111542702
Binding: Hardcover
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.shah2@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
1. A general overview of the unit
2. What is sustainability?
3. Challenges and responses
4. Sustainability as a discipline
5. Is Earth warming?
6. How temperature records are compiled
7. Modern climate change and greenhouse gases
8. The human factor
Chapter
1 and 6
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students will need to identify different sustainability projects. Team will be formed and each team will contain 2/3 students. Team will understand the project problems, identify the research question, prepare a project plan, set aims, objectives, and develop a methodology.
Module/Topic
1. Sustainability at work
2. Sustainability initiatives
3. Air pollution
4. Soil and land pollution
5. Water pollution
6. Pollution remediation and prevention
Chapter
5 and 9
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students are required to write individual reflective writing task (RWT)1. Your first reflective paper (RP1) will be on a topic of a sustainability issue you are familiar. Identify the problems and suggest a probable solution.
The RWT1 links to the Learning Outcome (LO)1 and LO2.
Module/Topic
1. Uneven distribution of water
2. Depletion of nonrenewable aquifers
3. Threats to human and ecosystem health
4. Consumption
5. Effects of climate change
6. Water conservation
7. Wastewater treatment
8. 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:
Tutorial/ Workshop day of Week 3. Each presentation is to be 10-12 minutes followed by 5 minutes for questions and changeover.
Presentation schedule will be provided. Please follow the presentation guidelines available in the Moodle.
Module/Topic
1. Introduction to ecosystems and habitat
2. Populations and extinction
3. Drivers of ecosystem change
4. Conservation and restoration
5. Conservation
6. Restoration ecology
7. Living together-reconciliation ecology
Chapter
8
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team will work on their project proposal based on the feedback from the presentation.
Team Project Proposal:
Due: 11 August, 2019 (11.45 pm AEST)
The details of the project proposal are available in the Unit Moodle.
Module/Topic
1. Why study living systems?
2. Energy and matter
3. The four spheres
4. The biosphere
5. What is life?
6. Gaia: earth systems science
7. Systems
Chapter
3
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students are required to write their RWT2 that includes a solution of a sustainable issue by applying systematic design processes.
RWT2 links to LO3 and LO4.
Module/Topic
Vacation Week
Chapter
Vacation Week
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Module/Topic
1. Traditional fossil fuels
2. Solar
3. Solar photovoltaic panels
4. Wave and tidal
5. Hydro
6. Wind
7. Geothermal
8. Biomass
9. Biogas
10. Alternative energy for transportation
Chapter
10
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team will continue to work on their project.
Individual RWT2:
Due: 01 September, 2019 (11.45 pm AEST)
Module/Topic
1. What is a green building?
2. The process of green building design
3. Building envelope
4. Lighting
5. Passive heating and cooling concepts
6. Heating
7. Cooling
8. Ventilation
9. Construction
10. Sustainable sites
Chapter
11
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team will continue to work on their project and try to find out a solution by designing, modelling etc. You can link this part to LO3.
Module/Topic
1. Introduction to livable cities
2. Sprawl
3. Land use planning
4. Urban planning
5. Building community
6. Transportation
7. Cities and climate change
Chapter
12
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Team will work on their project draft reports.
Module/Topic
1. Design for the environment
2. Industrial ecology
3. Process design
4. Product alternatives
5. Product design
6. Shipping and packaging
7. ISO 14000 standards
8. Certification and labels
9. Eco-labels
Chapter
14
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students are required to write another individual RWT3 that addresses a change proposal.
RWT3 links to LO5 and LO6.
Team project draft report:
Due: 22 September, 2019 (11.45 pm AEST)
Please follow the guidelines for project report available in the Moodle.
Module/Topic
1. Waste management
2. Landfills
3. Incineration
4. Recycling
5. C & D waste
6. Industrial waste
7. Zero waste
Chapter
15
Robertson Textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Individual RWT3:
Due: 29 September, 2019 (11.45 pm AEST)
Team will wrap up their projects.
Module/Topic
In this week, a guest lecturer will deliver the lecture.
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.
Each presentation will be 10-12 minutes followed by 5 minutes for questions and changeover. Presentation schedule will be provided in the unit Moodle.
Portfolio Due: Week 11 Friday (4 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
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 writing task, team project report, team project charter, presentation, small writing task etc) 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 omission of any of the following items from the portfolio may affect the Final Grade:
1. Individual grade nomination
2. Individual reflective writing tasks
3. Self and peer assessment (SPA)
4. Workbook
5. Project charter
6. Project report
7. Presentation slides
8. Small writing tasks
Late submission of portfolio without a granted extension may affect the final grade.
Individual Viva
Following the submission of the Portfolio, each student may need to attend a viva where they will be expected to defend the claims made in their Portfolio against each learning outcome. Unsatisfactory performance in the viva 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 11 Friday (4 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
The portfolio should be submitted electronically via the unit Moodle as a WORD file. One submission per student.
Exam Week Friday (25 Oct 2019)
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 (Moodle). 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 (50% mark) in order to be eligible for a passing grade for this unit. In addition, you have to achieve a minimum 50% mark of each learning outcome to pass the 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?
