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Unit outline_

INDP3000: Interdisciplinary Project

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This interdisciplinary unit provides students with the opportunity to address complex problems identified by industry, community, and government organisations, and gain valuable experience in working across disciplinary boundaries. In collaboration with a major industry partner and an academic lead, students integrate their academic skills and knowledge by working in teams with students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. This experience allows students to research, analyse and present solutions to a real-world problem, and to build on their interpersonal and transferable skills by engaging with and learning from industry experts and presenting their ideas and solutions to the industry partner.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Arts and Social Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
72 credit points
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
LAWS3508 or LAWS5208
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator IKM Mokhtarul Wadud, mokhtarul.wadud@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Attendance
Attendance
0% Ongoing NA
Outcomes assessed: LO5
Assignment Individual Statement One
Written task
0% Week 02
Due date: 03 Mar 2024 at 23:59
500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2
Assignment group assignment Group Plan
Research plan
20% Week 05
Due date: 24 Mar 2024 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Individual Statement Two
Written task
20% Week 08
Due date: 21 Apr 2024 at 23:59
500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2
Presentation group assignment Group Presentation
Oral presentation inclusive of 300-word or equivalent Executive Summary
20% Week 12
Due date: 17 May 2024 at 23:59
≤10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO2
Assignment group assignment Group Project Report
Report
40% Week 13
Due date: 24 May 2024 at 23:59
4000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Group work survey
Questionnaire
0% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2024 at 23:59
NA
Outcomes assessed: LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Group plan aims to articulate the issues the group will address and develop a project plan. 
  • Individual statement aims to analyse and reflect on students’ own and other members’ ways of contributing to their work on this project.
  • Group report aims to conduct in depth analysis/es and research, discuss the results, and provide recommendations or solutions to the issues outlined in the group plan.
  • Group presentation including Executive Summary aims to present students’ work and findings to the project partner.
  • Group work survey aims to evaluate student’s contributions relative to the contributions of other team members.
  • Attendance aims to ensure active participation by all team members for the project work.

 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas and the Project Outline.

* Individual contributions to group assessments may adjust the final grade that a student receives, through what is known as a Relative Performance Factor. Please see the Project Outline for more details.

 

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.

 

 

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.

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
Ongoing Will be provided on Canvas Project (39 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance:

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for this unit of study.  Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure will be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with their Project Supervisor. Failure to meet the attendance requirement may impact on your overall mark in this unit, as it will inform the Relative Performance Factor that is applied to assessments. 

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 Canvas.

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 critical awareness of, and apply, disciplinary knowledge and skills to address complex real-world problems
  • LO2. Assess and integrate diverse stakeholder perspectives to generate insights into complex problems
  • LO3. Purposefully select and apply complex problem-solving approaches and methods
  • LO4. Communicate effectively and persuasively in professional settings using relevant media
  • LO5. Demonstrate professionalism (proficiency, adaptivity, and proactivity) in collaborative project work

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

Word limits and penalties

Word limits are maximum word counts. Students are strongly encouraged to stay within word limits.

  1. The following are not included in word counts:
      1. Bibliographic references (whether in text, footnotes, endnotes or a bibliography);
      2. Appendices - but the content of appendices will not be marked.
  2. The content of tables are included in the word count.
  3. Discursive footnotes are not permitted.

 

A penalty of 5% of the available marks will be applied to submissions that go above the word limit.

 

Legal obligations

Are students permitted to use the Partner's intellectual property?

Yes. The Partners have provided a licence to each student and the University to use any documents, information, plans and reports relating to the business of the Partner, that have been provided to the University or students in connection with a Project. These documents and information are to be used strictly for the purposes of the Project and must be kept confidential. The Partner has reciprocal obligations to the University.

Do Partners receive copies of students’ work?

A copy of your presentation, the executive summary, and/or your final report will be provided to the Partner on some Projects. Please ask your Project Supervisor for further details.

 

Are there any confidentiality requirements in this project?

The University and project partners have mutually agreed to keep each other's information confidential. This requirement is also set out in the Deed Poll.

 

Important ICPU arrangements

  • Groupwork Simple extensions: Students should apply for simple extensions for their Individual assessments via https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/simple-extensions.html. For group assessments, individuals students should email their Project Supervisor ensuring that they cc all team members
  • Academic appeals: Students should follow the following appeal process in this unit of study: 
    • Students contact their Project Supervisor to discuss their concerns regarding the academic decision and receive a better understanding of why the decision was made. 
    • If students are unhappy with that decision, they contact the Associate Director Interdisciplinary and Engaged Learning (DVC-Education (EEE), Dr Elisabeth Valiente-Riedlelisabeth.valiente-riedl@sydney.edu.au, to raise their concerns. 
    • If students’ concerns are not resolved, they may contact their faculty or school and follow the appeals process specific to their faculty or school. (https://sydney.edu.au/students/academic-appeals/resolution.html#faculty).
  • Student partner contact: Partner engagement is managed by the Project Supervisor in conjunction with the EEE team. Student contact with the partner is to be facilitated by the Project Supervisor at all times. Students must not contact a partner directly without prior permission from their Project Supervisor.
  • Student research - ethics approval: There may be limited scope for students to undertake small, negligible-risk primary research in their projects, such as carefully constructed surveys or questionnaires. If students are thinking about conducting research as part of their project work, they must discuss this with their Project Supervisor early in the program. No primary research is permitted without approval from your Project Supervisor.
  • Deed Poll requirements: Students registered for a project will need to upload a signed and witnessed Deed Poll to Canvas. This is a compulsory requirement for all students enrolled in this unit. Students must consider the acknowledgments in the deed carefully before submission. Students will be granted access to Canvas the week before teaching starts for their enrolled session and will need to submit the Deed Poll by or on the first day of class.
  • Use of student work for education purposes: A copy of students’ presentation and/or final report may be provided to the partner on some projects. Students can ask the Project Supervisor for further details. Submitted assignments may be used to evaluate assessment models and course design in accordance with the University’s Coursework Policy 2014. De-identified assignments may also be shared with future students as examples of completed work, or as a basis for developing past students’ work in future iterations of projects.

 

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.