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 are teamwork, communication, knowledge management, and evaluation using sustainability principles.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
At least 24 cp of the Master of Engineering.
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 - 2021
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 Have your Say
The guest lecturer's exposure to the students on 'bushfire and its mitigation in Australia' was interesting and helpful for the students to figure out one of the sustainability issues in Australia.
The similar engagement practice between the industry expert(s) and the students will be continued in the next offering.
Feedback from Have your Say
There is a recommendation of providing with a few more recent sustainability issue related journal articles in the Moodle.
Relevant journal articles and websites for each week's classes and tutorials/workshops will be made available in the next offering.
- 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.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
2 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
4 - Project (applied) - 30% | ||||||
5 - Presentation - 10% |
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 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||
2 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||
4 - Project (applied) - 30% | ||||||||
5 - Presentation - 10% |
Textbooks
Sustainability Principles and Practice
Edition: 2nd (2017)
Authors: Margaret Robertson
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; and 711 Third Avenue New York 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; and 711 Third Avenue New York , England and USA
Binding: Hardcover
Sustainability Principles and Practice
Edition: 2nd (2017)
Authors: Margaret Robertson
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; and 711 Third Avenue New York 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; and 711 Third Avenue New York , England and USA
ISBN: 978-1-315-62547-8
Binding: eBook
An Introduction to Sustainability: Environmental, Social and Personal Perspectives
Edition: 2nd (2018)
Authors: Martin Mulligan
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; and 711 Third Avenue New York 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; and 711 Third Avenue New York , England and USA
ISBN: 978-1-315-51945-6
Binding: eBook
An Introduction to Sustainability: Environmental, Social and Personal Perspectives
Edition: 2nd (2018)
Authors: Martin Mulligan
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group
England and USA England and USA
ISBN: 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; and 711 Third Avenue New York
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.nabi@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
Chapter
- 1 and 6; Robertson Textbook
- 1; Martin Mulligan Textbook
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students will need to identify different sustainability projects. To work with a project, they require to form different teams. Each team will generally contain 5/6 students depending on the number of students enrolled. The team should understand the project problems, research question/s, project background, aims and objectives, the methodology, results, discussions and conclusions. The detailed criteria of project report are available in the Moodle.
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
- 11; Martin Mulligan Textbook
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students are required to write a written assessment. The assessment task will be on the topic of a sustainability issue they are familiar with. Please note that this is an individual mandatory submission item.
The criteria of the assessment (Written Assessment 1) are available in the Moodle.
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
- 4, 13; Martin Mulligan Textbook
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
Each team must finalise its team members. They should select and work on their project topic.
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
- 8; Martin Mulligan Textbook
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
Each team should start working with its team project. The team should allocate the individual responsibility of the team project work so that they should submit a professional team project report in Week 12.
Written Assessment 1 Due: Week 4 Thursday (1 Apr 2021) 8:00 pm AEST
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
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students are required to write their second assessment item (Written Assessment 2) covering the solution of sustainability issue by applying sustainable design criteria. Please note that this is an individual mandatory submission item.
Some reading materials are allocated in the Moodle for assessment 2.
Please refer to the Unit Moodle for the criteria of this assessment.
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
- 5; Martin Mulligan Textbook
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students should read the reading materials available in the Moodle for their next assessment item. All reading materials are separately allocated in each Week's reading material.
The team will continue to work on their project.
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
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
The team will continue to work on their team project and try to find out a solution to the sustainability issue by designing, modelling etc.
The team will work on their team project with significant progress.
Students are required to write their third assessment item (Written Assessment 3) that addresses a change proposal. Please note that this is also an individual mandatory submission item.
For the criteria of this assessment, please refer to the Unit Moodle.
Written Assessment 2 Due: Week 7 Thursday (29 Apr 2021) 8:00 pm AEST
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
- 15; Martin Mulligan Textbook
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students will continue their team project work.
Besides, the textbook reading, students should read the reading materials that are available in the Moodle for their next assessment item. All reading materials for that particular assessment item are separately allocated in the Moodle.
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
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
The team should significantly progress with their project work.
Besides team project work, students should read the reading materials that are available in the Moodle for written assessment 3.
Written Assessment 3 Due: Week 9 Thursday (13 May 2021) 8:00 pm AEST
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
- Different relevant articles from journals, conference and web sites
Events and Submissions/Topic
The Team should wrap up their projects. Each team should make rehearsal for their Team Project Presentation in Week 11.
Module/Topic
Guest lecture
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Each presentation will be approximately 10-12 minutes followed by 5-7 minutes for questions and changeover. The presentation schedule will be provided in the unit Moodle.
Note that all team members must need to present.
Team Project Presentation Due: Week 11 Wednesday (26 May 2021) 8:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Review class
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Note that the team project report is a team submission and mandatory item.
All team members should check the team project report so that it covers all criteria elements.
Team Project Report Due: Week 12 Thursday (3 June 2021) 8:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This is an individual submission item. For this assessment, students should use week 1-2 class lectures, tutorials, referred textbooks, and week 1 reading materials. It is recommended that students use the teaching and reading resources available in Week 1 and Week 2. The topic and writing of written assessment 1 should be different from other assessment topics and writings. From the class lectures, tutorials/workshops, students should familiar with the issues facing our planet, their causes, and the mitigation of a particular sustainable issue.
Refer to Unit Moodle for the detailed description of the task.
Week 4 Thursday (1 Apr 2021) 8:00 pm AEST
Individual submission
Week 6 Thursday (22 Apr 2021)
Submitted item will be returned with comments
Students are required to write their first assessment item. This assessment task will be on the topic of a sustainability issue; currently, the planet faces. Students require to identify an issue and the stakeholders associated with the issue. They need to develop the stakeholders' requirements. They also require suggesting a solution to the identified issue. This is an individual mandatory submission item. This task assesses the learning outcomes 1 and 2. Students have to write the assessment in a report format of not more than 1500 words. They need to submit their file preferably in an MS Word file through the submission link in the Moodle. In the submission, students should demonstrate their knowledge and understand the concept, clarity of expression, including the use of terminology, ease of reading, spelling and grammar, orderly and logical presentation and use of diagrams as appropriate to illustrate points, use of appropriate referencing both in-text and in the reference list.
The details of the criteria for this assessment are available in the Moodle.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Show evidence of grappling with complex issues through stakeholder engagement
- Develop a set of stakeholder requirements
2 Written Assessment
Like Assessment 1, this is also an individual submission item. For this assessment, you should use week 3-4 class lectures, tutorials, referred textbooks, and week 3-4 reading materials. Students are not allowed to use teaching and reading materials that are available in Week 1 and week 2. The selected topic and writing for this task must be different from the topics and writings of task 1 and team project report.
The detailed task description is available in Unit Moodle.
Week 7 Thursday (29 Apr 2021) 8:00 pm AEST
Individual submission
Week 9 Thursday (13 May 2021)
Submitted item will be returned with comments
This is your second assessment and mandatory item. You are required to find another sustainable issue (different from Written Assessment 1 and Team Project) that addresses its causes and remedies using sustainable criteria. This task assesses the learning outcomes 3 and 4. Students have to write the assessment in a report format of not more than 1500 words. They need to submit their file preferably in an MS Word file through the submission link in the Moodle. In the submission, students should demonstrate their knowledge and understand the concept, clarity of expression, including the use of terminology, ease of reading, spelling and grammar, orderly and logical presentation and use of diagrams as appropriate to illustrate points, use of appropriate referencing both in-text and in the reference list.
The details of the criteria for this assessment are available in the Moodle.
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- 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
3 Written Assessment
Like assessments 1 & 2, this is also an individual submission. For this assessment, students are required to write a change proposal. Their submission must be different from those of other students. The project change proposal should include a brief overview of the change proposal, the necessity of the change, the proposed change benefits etc. Like assessments 1 and 2, students have to write this assessment in a report format of not more than 1500 words. They need to submit their file preferably in an MS Word file through the submission link in the Moodle. In the submission, students should demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the concept, clarity of expression, including the use of terminology, ease of reading, spelling and grammar, orderly and logical presentation and use of diagrams as appropriate to illustrate points, use of appropriate referencing both in-text and in the reference list. The detailed information of this assessment is available in the unit Moodle.
Week 9 Thursday (13 May 2021) 8:00 pm AEST
Individual submission
Week 11 Thursday (27 May 2021)
Submitted item will be returned with comments
As indicated in the task description, this is a mandatory and individual submission item. The assessment assesses learning outcomes 5 and 6. You have to write the assessment in a report format of not more than 1500 words. You can submit your file (preferably MS Word file) through the submission link in the Moodle. In your submission, you should demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the concept, clarity of expression, including the use of terminology, ease of reading, spelling and grammar, orderly and logical presentation and use of diagrams as appropriate to illustrate points, use of appropriate referencing both in-text and in the reference list.
The details of the criteria for this assessment are available in the Moodle.
- Communication
- Self-management
- Leadership
- Develop and pitch a change proposal
- Reflect on the contribution of this project to professional development.
4 Project (applied)
This is a team submission. For this assessment, students to brainstorm sustainable project ideas from week 1 and finalise their project title on or before week 3. The team project topic must be different from the topics of written assessments 1 and 2. Each project will be carried out by a team of approximately 5-6 students depending on the students' enrollment. In order to the successful completion of the project, students should discuss and work effectively and sincerely with their team members from the beginning of the term. Each week in the workshop, students will have the opportunity to take advantages of their supervisors. They can discuss their issues, problems and project progress with their supervisors. All teams should submit a satisfactory project report in week 12. Each team member should reflect on his/her achievement according to Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency.
Refer to Unit Moodle for detailed task description.
Week 12 Thursday (3 June 2021) 8:00 pm AEST
Team Submission. Only one Team member should submit this item.
Exam Week Thursday (17 June 2021)
Submitted item will be returned with comments
This is also a mandatory team submission item. Only one submission from each team is required. All team members should equally work in the team. Individual member should declare their percentage share to team project work. Besides each member's The percentage contribution to team project work will be assessed in each week's meeting with his/her supervisor. Team project assesses the learning outcomes 2 and 3. The team project report should be a professional one. Although there is no page or word limit, the report should include some essential items. Some of them are executive summary, introduction including literature review, stakeholders and their engagements, aims/objectives, results and discussions.
You will find the details of the team project report criteria in the Moodle.
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Develop a set of stakeholder requirements
- Apply a systematic design process (systems engineering) to develop solutions to an issue
5 Presentation
This is a team presentation. Each team present its project work in Week 11. All team members must attend and present their project work. The detailed schedule for the presentation will be available in Unit Moodle in due time. All students must make practice presentation with their team members, supervisors and other students before final presentation to manage the allotted presentation time effectively. All students should look at the presentation criteria available in Unit Moodle.
Week 11 Wednesday (26 May 2021) 8:00 am AEST
Team presentation
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (9 June 2021)
Marks will be posted
It is mandatory to present all team members. An absent team member will be awarded zero marks. There will be approximately 10-15 mts presentation time (depending on the number of students' in the group) for each team. All students must attend the presentation from the beginning until the end of the presentation. They must follow the appropriate dress code for their professional presentation. Failing to present will result in 0 marks to the absent student.
The details of the presentation criteria are available in the Moodle.
No submission method provided.
- Communication
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
- Develop and pitch a change proposal
- Reflect on the contribution of this project to professional development.
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.