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AMME5601: Professional Engineering (2014 - Semester 1)

Download UoS Outline

Unit: AMME5601: Professional Engineering (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Fiford, Rod
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: 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). 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.
Assumed Knowledge: Experience in a professional engineering related field is desirable to aid in group tutorial discussion.
Lecturer/s: Dr Fiford, Rod
Tutor/s: To be advised on course outline distributed in lecture 1.
Timetable: AMME5601 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 1 13
2 Tutorial 2.00 1 12
3 Independent Study 4.00 13
T&L Activities: Tutorial: Computer based tutorials in early weeks using MS Project.

Group tutorials focused on peer based learning.

Intensive group based project to strengthen team work and engineering research skills.

Presentation: Held during tutorial session, short talk given to small peer group.

Technical writing: Engineering research report, major project.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Oral presentation to peers, individual technical engineering report, group report on OHSRM case study. Communication (Level 3)
Developing a more global approach to practice of engineering and engineering management, including awareness of ethics, workplace safety, sustainable design and environmental implications of engineering operations. Professional Conduct (Level 3)
Working is small teams to analyse an engineering case study, develop and plan solutions. Skills in use of project planning software and risk analysis. Project and Team Skills (Level 4)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Communication (Level 3)
1. Ability to prepare an interesting presentation on aspects of your work for your peers or senior managers.
2. Ability to write a concise, technical engineering report.
Professional Conduct (Level 3)
3. Ability to prepare a competent resume and be aware of job selection processes and procedures.
4. Ability to recognise the range of expertise you may need to call on in your role as an engineer working on a project (e.g. in the safety and environmental fields).
5. Awareness of ethical and other issues which can arise in the workplace
6. Awareness of the impact of Climate Change and related issues threatening sustainability and have some appreciation of the role for engineers in proposing solutions.
Project and Team Skills (Level 4)
7. Ability to work effectively in a small team to produce a technical report.
8. Ability to plan small projects, and contribute effectively to planning of larger projects.
9. Understanding of what is required in the conduct and management of an engineering project
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Project Planning No 10.00 Week 3 2, 8, 9,
2 Risk Analysis No 10.00 Week 5 2, 9,
3 Presentation Yes 10.00 Multiple Weeks 1,
4 Engineering Technical Report No 20.00 Week 8 2, 6,
5 Quizzes No 10.00 Multiple Weeks 4, 5, 6, 9,
6 Group Major Project Part A Yes 15.00 Week 10 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9,
7 Group Major Project Part B Yes 25.00 Week 13 2, 4, 7, 8, 9,
Assessment Description: Presentation/Seminar: Each student is required to give one presentation and attend two presentation tutorial sessions to give feedback to peers. Presentations are marked on the effort put into preparation as well as the quality of the actual presentation.

Assignments: Some group some individual, group assignments will require a ``group contribution`` form to be submitted by each team member.

Tutorials: Emphasis on teamwork and real world engineering case studies. Required to attend every week as scheduled in UoS outline.

Quiz: Two multiple choice/short answer closed book quizzes on any lecture or tutorial material; held during tutorial sessions as per UoS outline schedule.

Major Project: Group project involving tender-like proposed solution to an engineering problem.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Online Course Content: Via student "MyUni" elearning site.

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Course Introduction
CV and job application writing (Careers Centre)
Week 2 Project Management Principles
Use of MS Project
Week 3 Ergonomics
Assessment Due: Project Planning
Week 4 Ergonomics
Week 5 Engineering Project Economics
Quantitative Risk Analysis
Assessment Due: Risk Analysis
Week 6 Technical report writing
Oral communication skills
Week 7 Workplace Health & Safety (WHS)
Week 8 Role of unions
Industrial relations
APESMA
Assessment Due: Engineering Technical Report
Week 9 Total Quality Management
Management of maintenance
Week 10 Major project briefing
Assessment Due: Group Major Project Part A
Week 11 Sustainability concepts and environmental considerations
Week 12 Engineering case study
Week 13 Guest lecturer - Professional Engineer
Assessment Due: Group Major Project Part B

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Master of Professional Engineering (Aerospace) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Master of Professional Engineering (Mechanical) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Communication (Level 3) Yes 46.25%
Professional Conduct (Level 3) Yes 17.25%
Project and Team Skills (Level 4) Yes 34.5%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.