CQUniversity Unit Profile
EVST19008 Development and Environmental Policy
Development and Environmental Policy
All details in this unit profile for EVST19008 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In recent years the Australian news media has contained some consistent themes – and so we are all well aware of the clash between development projects and environmental concerns. How is the peace kept? How do development and the environment co-exist? You will explore the nexus of international agreements, government policy and corporate governance principles with respect to environmental policy. You will explore the rationale that links more specialist units of study at CQUniversity – Environmental Management Systems, Environment Impact Analysis and units teaching practical environment quality measurement skills. Your major assessment will assess a recent Australian environment issue asking you to determine what can be learnt about the theory and application of development and environmental policy to that incident.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

18 credit points.

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 - 2020

Online

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 10%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
4. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 Student feedback.

Feedback

A student asked for further advice on constructing an essay in the discipline.

Recommendation

The task brief for the term paper will be expanded to provide essay structure information.

Feedback from Student feedback.

Feedback

Student feedback indicates the unit structure and assessment regime assist the learning process.

Recommendation

Comment noted.

Feedback from Student feedback.

Feedback

A student asked for an assessment item prior to the term paper submission to gauge process.

Recommendation

The unit coordinator will invite an early feedback mechanism on the term paper.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the concepts that underpin development and environmental policy
  2. Analyse the peak processes organisations need to put in place to gain an environmental consciousness and abide by Government environmental management policy and legislation
  3. Assess the extent to which the application of environmental policy could have ameliorated a recent Australian environmental issue.

N/A

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Written Assessment - 10%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%
4 - Written Assessment - 20%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
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 - 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 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 10%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%
4 - Written Assessment - 20%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Environmental Management; Processes and Practices for Australia

Edition: 2nd (2011)
Authors: Thomas, I., Murfitt, P.
Federation Press
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 978-1-86287-816-7
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

Paper copies can be purchased from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Michael Hewson Unit Coordinator
m.hewson@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 09 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Welcome to the Anthropocene.

Chapter

Chapter 1 Environmental management - an Introduction

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 16 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Environmental policy – an international context.

Chapter

Chapter 2 International Context for Environmental Management and Policy

Events and Submissions/Topic

Forum #1 on week 2 material - your initial entry due Friday 20th March 2020 (week 2) 11 pm

Week 3 Begin Date: 23 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Environmental policy – a government context.

Chapter

Chapter 3 Public directions for environmental management

Events and Submissions/Topic

Forum #1 on week 2 material - your comments on posts of other students due Wed 25th March 2020 (week 3) 11 pm

Week 4 Begin Date: 30 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Environmental policy and management – the corporate response.

Chapter

Chapter 4 Private Directions for Environmental Management: Corporate Environmental management

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 5 Begin Date: 06 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Frameworks for environmental policy and management.

Chapter

Chapter 5 Broad Frameworks for Environmental Management

Events and Submissions/Topic

Portfolio #1 Due: Week 5 Monday (6 Apr 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 13 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Vacation Week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 6 Begin Date: 20 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Toolkit: risk and life-cycle analysis.

Chapter

Chapter 6 Risk and life-cycle analysis

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 7 Begin Date: 27 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Toolkit: environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Chapter

Chapter 7 Tools for Environmental Assessment - EIA

Events and Submissions/Topic

Forum #2 on week 7 material - your initial entry due Friday 1st May 2020 (week 7) 11 pm.

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 May 2020

Module/Topic

Toolkit: environmental management systems (EMS).

Chapter

Chapter 8 Tools for Environmental Assessment - EMS

Events and Submissions/Topic

Forum #2 on week 7 material - your comments on posts of other students due Wed 6th May 2020 (week 8) 11 pm


Portfolio #2 Due: Week 8 Monday (4 May 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 11 May 2020

Module/Topic

Toolkit: environmental auditing.

Chapter

Chapter 9 Environmental Auditing

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 10 Begin Date: 18 May 2020

Module/Topic

Toolkit: environmental reporting.

Chapter

Chapter 10 Environmental Reporting

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 11 Begin Date: 25 May 2020

Module/Topic

Organisational change for environmental management - a case study.

Chapter

Chapter 11 Organisational change for environmental management

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 12 Begin Date: 01 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

The future of development and environmental policy.

Chapter

Chapter 12 Directions in environmental management

Events and Submissions/Topic


Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 08 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Portfolio #3 Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 15 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic


Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Portfolio #1

Task Description

Portfolio #1 is a submission of short answer questions from the learning activities of week three. You will collect and submit the results of worked exercises from the week into a single document for Portfolio #1. The individual exercises are detailed in the EVST19008 Moodle site of week three. The idea is that Portfolio #1 is a smaller portfolio so that you get used to the assessment type (and therefore the more heavily weighted marks of portfolios 2 and 3).


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Monday (6 Apr 2020) 9:00 am AEST

You will submit the portfolio via the EVST19008 Moodle site TurnItIn facility.


Return Date to Students

Week 7 Monday (27 Apr 2020)

The lecturer will provide feedback within ten days of portfolio submission.


Weighting
10%

Assessment Criteria

The ‘assessments’ tab of the EVST19007 Moodle site specifies detailed marking criteria – a synopsis of which is as follows:

- completeness of the short answer questions concerning the learning material;

- within word limits; and

- sentence construction, argument structure and readability of the short answer or diagram.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Microsoft Word document submitted via Moodle turnItIn

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the concepts that underpin development and environmental policy


Graduate Attributes
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Portfolio #2

Task Description

Portfolio #2 is a submission of short answer questions from weeks 4, 5 and 6. You will collect and submit the results of worked exercises from both weeks into a single document for Portfolio #2. The individual exercises are detailed in the EVST19007 Moodle site in weeks 4, 5 and 6.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Monday (4 May 2020) 9:00 am AEST

You will submit the portfolio via the EVST19008 Moodle site TurnItIn facility.


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Monday (18 May 2020)

The lecturer will provide feedback within ten days of portfolio submission.


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The ‘assessments’ tab of the EVST19007 Moodle site specifies detailed marking criteria – a synopsis of which is as follows:

- completeness of the short answer questions concerning the learning material;

- within word limits; and

- sentence construction, argument structure and readability of the short answer or diagram.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse the peak processes organisations need to put in place to gain an environmental consciousness and abide by Government environmental management policy and legislation


Graduate Attributes
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Portfolio #3

Task Description

Portfolio #3 is a submission of short answer questions from both weeks 8, 9, 10 and 11. You will collect and submit the results of worked exercises from both weeks into a single document for Portfolio #3. The individual exercises are detailed in the EVST19007 Moodle site in weeks 8, 9, 10 and 11.

The ‘assessments’ tab of the EVST19007 Moodle site specifies detailed marking criteria – a synopsis of which is as follows:

- completeness of the short answer questions concerning the learning material;

- within word limits; and

- sentence construction, argument structure and readability of the short answer or diagram.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 9:00 am AEST

You will submit the portfolio via the EVST19008 Moodle site TurnItIn facility.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (19 June 2020)

The lecturer will provide feedback within ten days of portfolio submission.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

The ‘assessments’ tab of the EVST19007 Moodle site specifies detailed marking criteria – a synopsis of which is as follows:

- completeness of the short answer questions concerning the learning material;

- within word limits; and

- sentence construction, argument structure and readability of the short answer or diagram.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Via Moodle site - assessment detail and submission

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Assess the extent to which the application of environmental policy could have ameliorated a recent Australian environmental issue.


Graduate Attributes
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Ethical practice

4 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Short Forum Discussions * 2

Task Description

Two separate written forum entries constitute this Assessment #4 ‘Short Forum Discussion’. Each forum is worth ten marks – two forums thus makeup 20% of your unit assessment overall.

The idea behind the forums is peer learning. The forums start with your submission of a short opinion of between 250 and 350 words. Your opinion is drawn from the learning material. Each forum then requires a second action from you by the due date: to make a short, respectful and reflective reply to at least two of your colleague's posts.

Detailed instructions and the two forum questions are noted in the Moodle site for EVST19008.

Forum #1 relies on your understanding of week 2 learning content:-

  • your initial forum entry is due Friday 20th March 2020 (week 2) 11 pm; and
  • your comments on posts of other students due Wed 25th March 2020 (week 3) 11 pm.

Forum #2 relies on your understanding of week 7 learning content:-

  • your initial entry due Friday 1st May 2020 (week 7) 11 pm ; and
  • your comments on posts of other students due Wed 6th May 2020 (week 8) 11 pm.


Assessment Due Date

Return Date to Students

Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

The Moodle site for EVST19008 contains a document detailing the marking criteria for the two forum assessments – in general, the marking accounts for:

  • a structured and engagingly written opinion drawing on unit materials;
  • within the word limits - between 250 and 350 words;
  • learned opinion on more than one related concept;
  • grammar and spelling;
  • submission of the original post on or before the deadline; and
  • commentary on other student posts on or before the deadline.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the concepts that underpin development and environmental policy


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Team Work
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

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?