Skip to main content
Unit outline_

CIVL4203: Major Industrial Project

Semester 1, 2024 [Supervision] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Enrolment in this unit is through a competitive scholarship application process which requires a WAM of at least 70. Successful applicants are partnered with an industry organisation where they will complete 6 months full?time at the organisation's site to carry out an engineering applied research project and other work assigned by the organisation. Students will receive a monthly scholarship payment from the University. This unit effectively replaces two thesis units and two elective units. Project work will be jointly supervised by an academic from the school and also a nominated industry supervisor.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Civil Engineering
Credit points 24
Prerequisites
? 
[36 credits of 3000 level units of study] and WAM >= 70
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
CIVL4022 or CIVL4023 or ENGG4000
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Pierre Rognon, pierre.rognon@sydney.edu.au
Project supervisor(s) Pierre Rognon, pierre.rognon@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Thesis Proposal
Refer to canvas - due date is at the end of week 4 based on your start date
5% - Details available in canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO5 LO2
Assignment Progress Report
Due in week 12 relative to your agreed starting date
5% - Details available in canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4
Assignment Draft Report
Due in week 22 to allow feedback from your supervisor prior to final report
5% - refer to canvas for details
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Honours thesis Thesis Report
Final thesis report - due in week 26 relative to your start date
70% - Details available in canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Oral Presentation
Presentation of completed work at uni and/or at worksite - due week 26
15% - Details available in canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO6

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas. Due dates for each task are relative to your project START DATE

Assessment criteria

Assessment rubrics are available in canvas for each task

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% per day penalty will be applied on the late submissions

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
- Academic seminar Presentation (1 hr) LO6
Company seminar Presentation (1 hr) LO6
Multiple weeks Fortnightly review of progress with supervisors One-to-one tuition (13 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Weekly Conduct research project and complete case studies on selected units and practical experience. 37.5 hours per week for 26 weeks at company's worksite Independent study (975 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Students will be required to commit 37.5 hours per week for 26 weeks to project work at an industrial worksite.

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 24 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 480-600 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. Investigate stakeholder needs and apply research methods to solve a complex industry problem or inform a complex decision or create a new product or process
  • LO2. Apply project management techniques in the planning and execution of an applied research project
  • LO3. Demonstrate in-depth technical knowledge related to the project
  • LO4. Identify additional learning needs required to carry out the research project, seek out learning resources and apply new skills and knowledge
  • LO5. Apply both industry and academic standard documentation practices in the process of documenting project progress and outcomes
  • LO6. Synthesise and present project findings to academic and industry colleagues in both formal and informal presentations
  • LO7. Work competently within organisational structures and policies, particularly those relating to Work Health and Safety

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.

Major changes in S2 2023 to harmonise ESIPS units across the faculty and to respond to student feedback

Work, health and safety

  • All research work must be completed in accordance with Company, School, Faculty and University WHS policies. This includes:
    • Completing appropriate lab inductions before commencing lab-based work
    • Where applicable, completing a risk assessment before commencing experimental work
  • Ensure that you discuss all WHS-specific aspects of your project with your supervisor at the outset.

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.