CQUniversity Unit Profile
GEOG13013 Sustainable Regions and Cities
Sustainable Regions and Cities
All details in this unit profile for GEOG13013 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

This unit will explore the immense economic, social and environmental transformation of regional Australia. It is roughly organized into three parts. During Part I, we will examine what rural and regional Australia is defined by policies and scholarships. We will also examine how sustainability is defined and measured in relation to regional development. Part II we’ll use multi-disciplinary perspectives to examine the key drivers and processes of rural and regional development in Australia (globalization, economic restructuring, demographic transition, and environmental change including natural disasters etc.). This involves not only an understanding of the wider changes, but also an appreciation of how these changes are experienced differently by places and people in terms of sustainability. Finally, during Part III we will examine sustainable development at three scales: region, regional city and community through case studies. We will pay particular attentions to sustainable planning and look at different ways regions, cities and communities achieve sustainability. The unit will conclude by considering what is necessary to meet the ongoing challenges to create regions and cities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

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 - 2023

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: 50%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%

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 Unit Coordinator self-reflection

Feedback

Real world situations are occurring which can be incorporated into the learning materials.

Recommendation

Update and refresh the unit's learning materials where relevant, including real-world examples.

Feedback from Unit Coordinator self-reflection

Feedback

The tutorial sessions introduced this term were useful to engage with students and facilitate learning.

Recommendation

Continue to provide the engaging and interactive tutorials.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Articulate the geography of scales and apply these to sustainable regions and cities
  2. Identify, analyze and evaluate key trends of change, challenges and opportunities of sustainability in regional Australia
  3. Deploy, under guidance, established frameworks and techniques of sustainability to urban and regional development in Australia
  4. Communicate geographical issues, ideas and arguments using appropriate written, cartographic and graphic forms.

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 4
1 - Written Assessment - 50%
2 - Written Assessment - 50%

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 - 50%
2 - Written Assessment - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

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

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

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Jiaping Wu Unit Coordinator
j.wu@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Unit Introduction - What Is Sustainability?

Chapter

There is no textbook for this unit. Weekly study materials will be made available on the unit's Moodle site.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Place Matters: Define Cities and Regions

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Sustainability: Frameworks, Principles and Tools

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Measuring Sustainability and Sustainability Development Goals

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Australia's Regional Settlement System

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Vacation week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

How Do Regions Develop and Change?

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

A Changing Regional Environment: Natural Disasters

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Whose Regions? Population, Health and Liveability in Australia Regions

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment—Sustainable Report Due: Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 11 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Planning As A Sustainability Instrument: Sustainable Planning in Queensland

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Sustainability by Planning: A Case Study

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Sustainability by Urban Design: A Case Study

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Toward Urban and Regional Sustainability

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment— Term Paper Due: Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment—Sustainable Report

Task Description

The assessment task requires you to write a report that examines the sustainability challenges of a chosen region or topic. You must select a region, regional city, industry, or organisation in Australia to study. The report should focus on the sustainability challenges faced by the selected region or topic. The same region or topic will be studied for assessment 2. It is crucial that you read the instructions for assessment 2 to make your choice of the region or topic. The report should be no less than 2,500 words in length.

Detailed instructions and resources for writing the report are available on the unit's Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2023) 11:45 pm AEST

Online submission


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2023)

Assessments will be marked and returned in two weeks after submission


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

This report will be assessed based on the overall quality of the research and the effectiveness of the written communication. These include

  • quality (breath and depth) of the research that has gone through the selected region or topic
  • overall understanding of sustainability challenges faced by the selected region or topic
  • written communication skills
  • knowledge and skills to present a research report

An assessment rubric is provided in the unit's Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Articulate the geography of scales and apply these to sustainable regions and cities
  • Identify, analyze and evaluate key trends of change, challenges and opportunities of sustainability in regional Australia
  • Deploy, under guidance, established frameworks and techniques of sustainability to urban and regional development in Australia
  • Communicate geographical issues, ideas and arguments using appropriate written, cartographic and graphic forms.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment— Term Paper

Task Description

Following the findings of your sustainability reports, the task of this assessment requires you to: a) investigate an existing plan related to the region or topic you reported on in assessment 1, and b) write a paper evaluating that plan. The paper should provide an assessment of whether or not the plan aligns with sustainable development principles and how it contributes to the sustainable development of the region or topic. It should also discuss its strengths, weaknesses, and potential areas for improvement in terms of promoting sustainable development. This includes how the sustainability challenges identified in the first assessment have been addressed by the plan. The paper should be a minimum of 3,000 words in length.

More detailed instructions are provided on the unit's Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (6 Oct 2023) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2023)

The papers will be marked and returned within two weeks after submission or as soon as practicable.


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

Your paper will be assessed based on the overall quality of the research, and effectiveness of the written communication. These include

  • understanding of the nature of a sustainability plan
  • quality of research and evaluation of the chosen plan
  • application of sustainable tools and frameworks to the evaluation of the plan
  • organisation and presentation of the paper, including the quality of written expression

An assessment rubric is provided in the unit's Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Articulate the geography of scales and apply these to sustainable regions and cities
  • Identify, analyze and evaluate key trends of change, challenges and opportunities of sustainability in regional Australia
  • Deploy, under guidance, established frameworks and techniques of sustainability to urban and regional development in Australia
  • Communicate geographical issues, ideas and arguments using appropriate written, cartographic and graphic forms.


Graduate Attributes
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • 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?