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Unit outline_

AMME9601: Professional Engineering

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study aims to create an awareness of issues surrounding the management of projects; impart knowledge resulting in a more global approach to the practice of engineering and engineering management; and provide a vehicle for improving communication skills (both written and oral). The course also aims, when taken together with other courses offered by the School, to substantially meet the requirement of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, for undergraduate training in management theory and Professional Engineering skills. On completion of this unit students should be able to: plan small projects and contribute effectively to planning of larger projects; work effectively in small teams; understand their role and expected conduct in the management of engineering projects; perform well in that role from the outset, with performance limited only by experience; prepare an interesting and relevant presentation on aspects of their work for their peers or senior managers; recognise the range of expertise they may need to call on in their role as an engineer working on a project (e.g. in safety and environmental fields); understand what the experts are saying, and be able to contribute effectively to that discussion.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Matthew Cleary, m.cleary@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Formal exam
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Quiz on lecture material.
5% Week 04 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO4
Assignment hurdle task Assignment 1
Essay on presented material to date.
20% Week 07 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Quiz on lecture material
5% Week 10 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4
Assignment Assignment 2
Essay on presented material to date.
20% Week 12 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Presentation: Students are required to give an individual presentation and attend all other student presentation tutorial sessions to give feedback to peers. All presentation slides must be uploaded to Canvas by 10pm Monday of week 4. Presentations are marked on the effort put into preparation as well as the quality of the actual presentation.
  • Quiz: Students are required to answer multiple choice and short answer questions on lecture and/or tutorial material studied throughout the unit. This is a closed book quiz. 
  • Major project: The major project is a group project focused on use of team work and communication skills to research a problem and propose a feasible solution.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Course introduction, overview and management theory, professional ethics. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2
Week 02 Communication skills. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO7
Week 03 Introduction to accounting & financial statements Overview of Australian legal, regulatory and statutory issues. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 04 Capital decision making models and DCF analysis. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Ethics and social responsibility. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2
Research for essay assignment. Independent study (30 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Management skill sets, Leadership. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Problem resolution strategies, managing conflict and negotiation. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 08 Sustainability issues and environmental considerations. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Industrial relations, Work health and safety issues. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Research for Essay assignment Independent study (30 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 10 Intellectual property, Total quality management. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2
Week 11 Project management, Contract management. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO6
Week 12 Operations management. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Open question and answer forum and review of course. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Research for Major assignment Independent study (40 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

  • Tutorial: Computer based tutorials in weeks 2 and 3 using MS Project. Group tutorials are focused on peer based learning.
  • Presentation: Presentations are short talks given to small peer groups and are held during tutorial sessions.
  • Technical writing: Technical writing is to be used in the research report and major project.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. acquire relevant data, process and analyse the information to manage some technology issue within the contemporary Australian industry
  • LO2. demonstrate familiarity of the Australian legislative requirements for workplace safety and manufacturing efficiency as well as analyse Australian industry practices in the global context
  • LO3. use various communication media to enhance self-learning; make effective use of communication skills to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding; and interact and relate to others
  • LO4. understand the fundamentals of management
  • LO5. risk management methodology, and decision making skills
  • LO6. use project management tools
  • LO7. write a concise, technical engineering report.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

First time.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.