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Unit outline_

ENGG5204: Engineering Professional Practice

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

This unit of study is designed to provide graduate engineers studying for a Master of Professional Engineering degree with an introduction to the professional engineering skills necessary to practice as an engineer. These include the various elements of engineering practice, an understanding of the role of the engineer in industry, basic knowledge of the law of contracts and legal responsibility, teamwork and leadership skills, an understanding of the professional responsibilities of engineers, competence in verbal communication and presentations and in reading and writing reports, and an understanding of ethical considerations. The material, learning and assessment is tailored for graduates from Australian and overseas universities.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Competences and experience in engineering obtained during an accepted engineering degree

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator John Currie, john.currie@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Michel Chaaya, michel.chaaya@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) John Currie, john.currie@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Group case presentation
Group Presentation
10% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO7
Assignment Management style self evaluation
Individual reflection report - personal research and peer comparison
20% Week 04
Due date: 16 Mar 2022 at 16:00

Closing date: 23 Mar 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8
Assignment group assignment Management report
Group research and case study development report.
20% Week 07
Due date: 06 Apr 2022 at 16:00

Closing date: 06 Apr 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO7 LO8
Online task Ethics & Sustainability Report (Individual)
An in-class assessment
10% Week 08
Due date: 13 Apr 2022 at 16:00

Closing date: 13 Apr 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO7 LO5 LO4
Assignment group assignment Ethics and sustainability report
Group research and case study development report. Group Presentation
15% Week 11
Due date: 11 May 2022 at 16:00

Closing date: 18 May 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment group assignment Legal issues case study
Group research and case study development report.
25% Week 12
Due date: 18 May 2022 at 16:00

Closing date: 25 May 2022
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

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 Introduction to the course and the issues Lecture (3 hr) LO4
Week 02 Management essentials Lecture (3 hr) LO4
Week 03 Developing self-awareness Lecture (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO7
Week 04 Managing a healthy workplace Lecture (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 05 Solving problems analytically and creatively Lecture (3 hr) LO7 LO8
Week 06 Communicating supportively Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 07 Motivating others Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Basic fundamentals and theories of ethics and sustainability practices in engineering Lecture (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7
Week 09 1. Relationships with clients, consultants, competitors, and contractors; 2. Outside employment/activities (Moonlighting); 3. Consideration of the employer’s assets; 4. Treatment of confidential or proprietary information; 5. Bribery and kickbacks, which also may include: gifts, meals, services, and entertainment; 6. Ensuring legal compliance by clients, client's contractors, and others Lecture (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 1. Accomplishments and world effort in Sustainable engineering development, hard and soft sustainability factors, models of sustainable development, sustainability in buildings Lecture (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Introduction to key legal concepts and contract law basics Lecture (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 12 Introduction to other relevant laws (intellectual property, trade practices), advertising, consumer protection, legal processes, rights and remedies Lecture (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 13 Controlling liability by contract: measuring and managing risk, interpreting and drafting basic agreements Lecture (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

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.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • James Carlopio & Graham Andrewatha, Developing Management Skills (5th edition). Pearson, 2012. 9781442547629.

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. demonstrate skills in all aspects of communication, including for technical and non-technical, and academic and public audiences
  • LO2. work effectively as both leader and member of a team, including conflict resolution and in designing managing and completing a number of projects
  • LO3. exercise professional and ethical decision-making as well as sound critical and ethical judgement in undertaking broad ranging professional roles and responsibilities
  • LO4. understand the principles and requirements of the professional engineer, in accord with the Engineers Australia graduate attributes, including social, economic, ethical, sustainability and environmental aspects
  • LO5. display fundamental application of ethical issues in technical practice, and considerations of business conduct
  • LO6. demonstrate basic knowledge of the law of contracts and the obligations of professional and legal responsibility
  • LO7. use significant skills in searching for and evaluating information relevant to any particular topic, using the full range of information-searching tools
  • LO8. use enhanced problem-solving and design skills learnt through direct instruction and application to tutorial problems and projects.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered, in line with high levels of student satisfaction.

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.