Overview
This unit is specifically designed so that students can apply the processes of research investigation through the analysis of, reflection on and critique of, an area of their professional practice. The unit uses a problem-based learning approach within an authentic workplace learning environment. This ensures students are undertaking an investigation that is relevant to the needs of industry. Students will apply an appropriate research methodology that suits their research problem. At the end of this unit, students will have developed a project plan that they will implement in the follow-on unit Engineering Research Project Implementation.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must have completed a minimum of 36 credit points and approval of the Head Cf course or delegate is required. Students must have a project topic and academic supervisor before they can be enrolled.
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 - 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 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 SUTE
Class schedule clashes with internship hours
The Unit Coordinator should collaborate with the administration team to schedule the classes after hours, taking into account the requirements of internship students and working professionals in the industry.
Feedback from SUTE
The updated assessment criteria and templates
The Unit Coordinator should inform the supervisor and reviewers of the updated assessment criteria and templates to ensure consistency.
Feedback from Class room feedback
Students struggle to manage time for both internship and research projects
Students should be encouraged to discuss thesis requirements with internship providers to request flexibility.
- Identify a suitable problem related to the study discipline
- Develop a research question including identifying key words
- Conduct an indepth review of related literature
- Select an appropriate research methodology to investigate the problem
- Regularly communicate professionally with all stakeholders in formal and informal reports
- Professionally present the project plan in a seminar and defend the methodology adopted.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Report - 10% | ||||||
| 2 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 20% | ||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 20% | ||||||
| 4 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||
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 - Report - 10% | ||||||||
| 2 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 20% | ||||||||
| 3 - Presentation - 20% | ||||||||
| 4 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Office
- Zoom
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.bui@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Unit introduction and teaching and learning arrangement
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Set up a regular weekly meeting with your project advisor (minimum 30-minute duration meeting/week)
- Agree on a communication strategy with the project advisor to maintain regular and efficient communication.
Module/Topic
Project problem definition
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Define and articulate the project problem.
- Identify the rationales for solving the project problem.
- Describe the project problem in the context of the big picture.
- Finalise the project problem statement.
Module/Topic
Scientific literature review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Conduct a literature review to find problems and solutions similar to your project's problem.
- Place your project problem in the context of existing problems and solutions and articulate your project within the context of existing literature.
- Define a single project aim and several accompanying project objectives (about 3 objectives).
- Conceive about 3 research questions from the project objectives (each question for each objective).
Module/Topic
Academic writing
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Write up the project literature review by putting the literature findings together in a structuring manner to support identifying the "best" approach to solve your project problem.
Project Problem Definition and Introduction Due: Week 4 Monday (29 July 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Academic referencing
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Complete the writing of the literature review and provide appropriate in-text citations and a proper list of references.
Module/Topic
None teaching week.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Continue to work on your project.
Module/Topic
Project methodology development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- From the literature review, identify the best approach to solve the project problem.
- From the best approach, articulate and develop detailed step-by-step methods to solve the project problem.
- Write up the project's detailed methodology and support it with relevant literature where necessary.
Module/Topic
Project planning
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Break the project into several logical and manageable steps.
- Identify the project key milestones that must be met during the project implementation.
- Schedule the project steps to create a logical and efficient flow of activities.
- Present the project schedule using the work breakdown structure and Gantt chart.
Project Literature Review Due: Week 7 Monday (26 Aug 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Project budgeting
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Determine the resources required to implement the project.
- Work out how to obtain the required resources and the costs involved.
- From the resources, create the project budget and write a short justification for each budgeted item.
- Follow the budget approval process to seek budget approval for your project. Note that the budget must be approved within the project planning phase to be valid.
Module/Topic
Project presentation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Prepare your project presentation slides.
- Focus on presenting the literature review findings and project methodology. The major focus should be on the project methodology.
- Aim for a maximum of 15 minutes of presentation.
- Ensure that your project advisor and the main reviewer can attend your presentation to assess your work.
- Rehearsal your presentation with the project advisor to obtain feedback and improve your presentation before the actual presentation.
Module/Topic
Project risk assessment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Identify risks associated with the project.
- Assess the severity of each risk.
- Devise the mitigation method for each risk.
- Assign responsibility for managing each risk
- Complete the risk assessment form and seek approval.
Module/Topic
Project methodology presentation to academic panel.
No workshop this week.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Present your project, focusing on the project methodology, to a panel consisting of the project advisor and academic reviewers for assessment.
- Obtain feedback on your project.
- Address the feedback in your planning thesis.
- Complete a draft of the planning thesis and send it to the project advisor for feedback.
Project Methodology Presentation Due: Week 11 Monday (23 Sept 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Students are working on completing the project thesis and submitting it before the due date.
No workshop this week.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Activity:
- Finalise the planning thesis, and incorporate all feedback from the reviewers and academic advisor
- Submit the thesis by its due date (Monday of Week 13, i.e., Review/Exam Week).
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
ENRP20001 project planning thesis is due on Monday at 23:59.
Project Planning Thesis Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (7 Oct 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Students must submit a project progress update weekly using the online form. Marks will be allocated to the number of forms submitted and contribute to the unit's final result.
1 Report
You will define the project's problem clearly and precisely and place it in the context of existing literature so that a layperson can understand it. You must provide the rationales for solving the problem and highlight the need and the benefits of solving the problem. You should support your arguments with the literature facts and therefore, some preliminary literature review on the topic of the project is required to adequately define your project problem. From the project problem statement, you must concisely conceive the project aims and then derive several project objectives which evidently must align with the project aim. In addition, you also need to specify the project's deliverables, scope and stakeholders. Evidence of the number of project progress update submissions is also required as some marks will be rewarded for a submission record of over 80%.
Week 4 Monday (29 July 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Submission of a single PDF file using a link in the unit Moodle.
Week 6 Monday (19 Aug 2024)
It is expected that the assessment item will be returned to students with mark and feedback within two weeks after the submission due date.
This assessment will be marked based on the following criteria:
- Include an assessment submission cover sheet that contains all relevant information
- Include appropriate front matters.
- Follow good practices for academic report writing and formatting.
- Include appropriate and proper citations and references of literature.
- Define the project problem clearly and concisely.
- Describe clearly the placement of the project problem within the context of existing literature.
- Provide the rationales for solving the project problem.
- Articulate how the project fits within a general and existing literature context so that a layperson can understand.
- Define a single project aim.
- Articulate several project objectives.
- Conceive the research questions.
- Define the project scope and stakeholders.
- State the project outcomes, deliverables and timelines.
- Provide your record of the project weekly update submission.
The detailed assessment criteria will be available on the Unit Moodle site.
Important Information:
The students MUST submit all required assessments by their due dates, as no late submission will be accepted (this is professional practice). If an extension is required, please ensure the extension request reaches the Unit Coordinator AT LEAST 72 hours before the deadline unless specified otherwise in the assessment tasks. Application for an extension after the due date may not be acceptable.
According to the Assessment Policy, Section 5.16, the acceptable reasons for extension are disability, medical or health-related conditions, hardship (serious accident), compassionate circumstances (death of a family member) etc., with providing supporting evidence.
Late Submission Penalty: A late submission penalty of 5% per day of the total available marks for the assessment will be deducted for each full or part calendar day the task is overdue will be applied in this unit, according to the University Assessment Policy (Section 5.42). The penalty must be a NEGATIVE score deducted from the overall mark and calculated based on late submission status.
- Identify a suitable problem related to the study discipline
- Develop a research question including identifying key words
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
2 Literature Review or Systematic Review
This assessment consists of two parts. The first part is the revision of Assessment 1 - project problem definition and introduction from the advisor's feedback and the second part is a detailed literature review of the project's problem. In the first part, students must amend Assessment 1 to address all feedback received from the project advisor and produce a document that outlines how the students address each of the advisor's feedback. Students then attach this document as an appendix to Assessment 2's submission. In the second part, students must provide a focused literature review relevant to the project's problem by describing the existing issues similar to the project problem and their solutions. Students must critically analyse the solutions to identify the best approach to solve the project problem. In the literature review, students should not simply restate the literature information but instead must explain the literature from their understanding and critically analyse the data to argue the best approach to solve the project problem. It is anticipated that a major part of the literature review is the critical analysis and discussion of the literature findings in the context of the project problem.
Students must provide appropriate and proper citations in text and produce a list of full references at the end of the report following CQU referencing guidelines. In addition, evidence of the number of project progress update submissions is also required as some marks will be rewarded for a submission record of over 80%.
Week 7 Monday (26 Aug 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Submission of a single PDF file using a link in the unit Moodle.
Week 9 Monday (9 Sept 2024)
It is expected that the assessment item will be returned to students with mark and feedback within two weeks after the submission due date.
This assessment will be marked based on the following criteria:
- Include an assessment submission cover sheet that contains all relevant information.
- Include appropriate front matters
- Follow good practices for academic report writing and formatting.
- Include appropriate and proper citations and references of literature.
- Adhere to CQU referencing guidelines properly.
- Provide your attendance record for assessment.
- Include a focused literature review on the project problem.
- Include quality and relevant literature.
- Explain literature from the student's understanding/perspective rather than restating the facts.
- Analyse the literature critically to identify the best approach for solving the project problem.
- Include in-depth discussions of literature findings relevant to the project problem.
- Address the advisor's feedback for Assessment 1 properly.
- Include a document that outlines how each advisor's feedback for Assessment 1 was addressed.
The detailed assessment criteria will be available on the Unit Moodle site.
Important Information:
The students MUST submit all required assessments by their due dates, as no late submission will be accepted (this is professional practice). If an extension is required, please ensure the extension request reaches the Unit Coordinator AT LEAST 72 hours before the deadline unless specified otherwise in the assessment tasks. Application for an extension after the due date may not be acceptable.
According to the Assessment Policy, Section 5.16, the acceptable reasons for extension are disability, medical or health-related condition, hardship (serious accident), compassionate circumstances (death of a family member) etc., with providing evidence.
Late Submission Penalty: A late submission penalty of 5% per day of the total available marks for the assessment will be deducted for each full or part calendar day the task is overdue will be applied in this unit, according to the University Assessment Policy (Section 5.42). The penalty must be a NEGATIVE score deducted from the overall mark and calculated based on late submission status.
- Conduct an indepth review of related literature
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
3 Presentation
Students are required to do a 15-minute oral presentation on their project plan during Week 11. The presentation must focus on the literature review and the proposed project methodology. The presentation session with a specific schedule will be organised face-to-face or online. The video of the presenter must be turned on during the presentation session.
To be eligible to present, students must submit the presentation slides to the unit Moodle website at least 24 hours before the presentation session. During the presentation, every student will be given an equal opportunity to present for 15 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of Q&A.
Please note that the presentation will not be rescheduled. Therefore, an extension request is not acceptable for this assessment item.
Week 11 Monday (23 Sept 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Presentation schedule will be posted in the Unit Moodle within Week 10. Students must promptly check their presentation time with the academic advisor and the main reviewer to ensure that they can attend the presentation. If not suitable, student must discuss with the supervisor and the main reviewer to find a suitable time and inform the Unit Coordinator to reschedule accordingly.
Some verbal feedback will be provided to students during the presentation. Written feedback will be given within two weeks after the presentation date.
The presentation will be marked based on the following criteria:
- Articulate the problem clearly and concisely.
- Place the project problem within the general and existing literature context so that a layperson can understand it.
- Provide the rationales for solving the project problem.
- Explain existing problems similar to the project problem.
- Analyse the solutions for existing problems to identify the best approach to solve the project problem.
- Explain how the project methodology can be developed from the best approach identified in the above step.
- Describe the detailed project methodology so that a layperson can understand.
- Describe the project planning.
- Describe the project risk assessment.
- Describe the project budget and budget justifications.
- Present the student up to date progress.
- Discuss the project's key aspects and provide some conclusions.
- Quality of the presentation slides.
- Delivery of presentation (style and skills).
- Keep the presentation within the allocated time.
- Handling of Q&A.
Detailed Assessment Criteria and presentation schedule will be available on the course website.
- Select an appropriate research methodology to investigate the problem
- Professionally present the project plan in a seminar and defend the methodology adopted.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
4 Portfolio
This is the final assessment task for the unit. It requires students to collate the information in the previous three assessments and compile them in a coherent thesis document. Students must address all feedback received from the project advisor and reviewers in this thesis and prepare a document that outlines how each feedback is addressed in the thesis. This document must be attached as one of the thesis appendices. The thesis will be marked by assessing the following parts:
- Thesis Title Cover Page
- Executive Summary (Abstract)
- Acknowledgements
- Table of Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Terms (Acronyms)
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Methodology
- Project Plan (scheduling and budgeting)
- Risk Assessment
- Progress to date
- Discussion and Conclusions
- References
- Appendices (addressing the advisor and reviewers' feedback, record of weekly progress update submissions for the entire term, and other supporting information as appropriate).
- Include a document that outlines how each feedback was addressed in the thesis.
- Include a complete record of weekly progress update submissions for the entire term.
Important Information:
The students MUST submit all required assessments by their due dates, as no late submission will be accepted (this is professional practice). If an extension is required, please ensure the extension request reaches the Unit Coordinator AT LEAST 72 hours before the deadline unless specified otherwise in the assessment tasks. Application for an extension after the due date may not be acceptable.
According to the Assessment Policy, Section 5.16, the acceptable reasons for extension are disability, medical or health-related condition, hardship (serious accident), compassionate circumstances (death of a family member) etc., with providing evidence for no more than seven days.
Late Submission Penalty: A late submission penalty of 5% per day of the total available marks for the assessment will be deducted for each full or part calendar day the task is overdue will be applied in this unit, according to the University Assessment Policy (Section 5.42). The penalty must be a NEGATIVE score deducted from the overall mark and calculated based on late submission status.
Review/Exam Week Monday (7 Oct 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Submission of a single PDF file using a link in the unit Moodle.
The marked thesis with feedback will be returned to students after the grade moderation date.
The project thesis will be assessed based on the quality of its chapter contents and the comprehensiveness and rigorousness of information, results, and discussions.
Detailed Assessment Criteria will be available on the unit website.
- Identify a suitable problem related to the study discipline
- Develop a research question including identifying key words
- Conduct an indepth review of related literature
- Select an appropriate research methodology to investigate the problem
- Regularly communicate professionally with all stakeholders in formal and informal reports
- 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?
