Overview
The impacts of human populations on the natural environment are well studied but little progress has been made to improve the sustainability of our lifestyle due to the complex interactions among social, economic and environmental imperatives. In Sustainability Issues and Solutions you will investigate the impact of human activities on a range of living and non-living, renewable and non-renewable natural resources. By applying 'Systems Thinking' you will practise developing solutions that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. On completion of this unit you will have a broad appreciation of the balances underpinning both temporal and spatial variation in sustainability and human efforts to control these.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Minimum of 72 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 3 - 2023
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 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
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
Students would like more live Q&A sessions.
Continue to offer live Q&A sessions to students.
Feedback from SUTE
Some student feedback considered there were too many assessment pieces, and the weighting of assessments could be changed.
Review the current assessment structure as it aligns with the unit learning outcomes, and determine where modifications can be made.
Feedback from SUTE
Students expressed their appreciation for the lecture content and topics, but have suggested certain content could be updated.
Continue to review and update lecture content to see where further updates and new knowledge can be included.
- Discuss the economic, ethical and ecological issues associated with the sustainable utilisation of the earth's renewable and non-renewable natural resources.
- Explain the importance of systems thinking and an understanding of temporal and spatial scales and feedback loops in determining solutions to sustainable management of resources.
- Discuss the shortcomings in our understanding and acceptance of the processes that lead to sustainability.
- Develop a range of possible strategies that would help to ensure the sustainable utilisation of natural resources.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||
2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
4 - Group Discussion - 10% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
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 - 20% | ||||||||||
2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
4 - Group Discussion - 10% |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
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.
a.anastasi@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Sustainability concepts and systems thinking
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ecological, economic and social measures of sustainability
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Biodiversity
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Water resources
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Food production systems
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Trees, carbon and climate change
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Marine resources
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Energy systems
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Waste management and the circular economy
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Population and sustainable development
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Urbanisation and transport
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Cultural change and social innovation
Chapter
Study Guide Chapter 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Group Discussion
Post relevant comments to the forum in Moodle.
Forum posts must be 600 words or less.
Refer to the unit's Moodle page for further instructions.
Week 3 Monday (20 Nov 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 5 Friday (15 Dec 2023)
Your forum post will be assessed on:
- Relevance to the topic (2 marks)
- Evidence of critical thinking (2 marks)
- Clarity of arguments (2 marks)
- Conciseness of posts, ability to stay below word limit (1 mark)
- Use of correct grammar, spelling (1 mark)
- Appropriate reference(s) (2 marks).
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Discuss the economic, ethical and ecological issues associated with the sustainable utilisation of the earth's renewable and non-renewable natural resources.
- Explain the importance of systems thinking and an understanding of temporal and spatial scales and feedback loops in determining solutions to sustainable management of resources.
2 Written Assessment
Prepare a slide deck with notes for a presentation that could be delivered to a group of peers. The presentation topic and further instructions will be allocated to you through the Moodle site.
Your slide deck should consist of a PowerPoint presentation of 15 slides (maximum), including the title slide and a slide of references. Add the extra information you would use during the presentation in the notes section below the slides. You should not have more than about seven dot points or 30 words per slide, and the notes section should be in dot point format and be between about 1000 and 1500 words in total for the entire presentation.
For this assessment, you are NOT required to actually give the presentation to an audience or add a narration to the slides!
Pitch your material at an informed lay audience, by using clear concise English and avoiding the use of jargon.
Refer to the unit's Moodle page for further instructions.
Week 6 Friday (22 Dec 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Friday (19 Jan 2024)
Your slide deck will be assessed on:
- Clarity of presentation and logical presentation of the issues
- Application of science and sustainability principles
- Comprehensive coverage of relevant issues
- Use of valid information sources and accuracy of reference details
- Appropriateness of language and presentation for audience
A marking rubric will be available on Moodle.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Discuss the economic, ethical and ecological issues associated with the sustainable utilisation of the earth's renewable and non-renewable natural resources.
- Discuss the shortcomings in our understanding and acceptance of the processes that lead to sustainability.
3 Written Assessment
You will post a response to a forum topic posted on the Moodle site. Your contribution must clearly respond to the question and add new information, and must cite authoritative sources. Word limit for your contribution is 2000 words.
The topic will be allocated throughout the term, with the forum and instructions opened at least 2 weeks before the due date.
Refer to the unit's Moodle page for further instructions.
Week 8 Friday (12 Jan 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (2 Feb 2024)
Your post will be assessed on:
- Relevance to the topic (8 marks).
- Evidence of critical thinking (8 marks).
- Clarity of arguments (8 marks).
- Conciseness of posts, ability to stay within word limit (4 marks).
- Use of correct grammar, spelling and appropriate format (4 marks).
- Appropriate reference(s): Preferentially from high quality, peer reviewed scientific sources. Government sources or research reports to governments count as 'grey literature' and should be used with caution (8 marks).
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Explain the importance of systems thinking and an understanding of temporal and spatial scales and feedback loops in determining solutions to sustainable management of resources.
- Develop a range of possible strategies that would help to ensure the sustainable utilisation of natural resources.
4 Written Assessment
You will be required to write a research report on a selected sustainability topic, available via Moodle during the term. The research report must cover pertinent issues related to the topic and analyse suggested solutions critically, including giving quantitative estimations where appropriate.
The word limit for the report is 1500 words, and you must use authoritative references to corroborate your arguments.
Detailed guidelines will available on the unit's Moodle site.
Week 11 Friday (2 Feb 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (16 Feb 2024)
Your report will be assessed on:
- Logical presentation of arguments
- Relevance of issues raised
- Clarity of expression
- Evidence of research and critical thinking
- Selection of credible sources and correct referencing
- Appropriate quantifications.
A marking rubric will be available on Moodle.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Discuss the shortcomings in our understanding and acceptance of the processes that lead to sustainability.
- Develop a range of possible strategies that would help to ensure the sustainable utilisation of natural resources.
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.