Note: This unit version is currently being edited and is subject to change!
MECH4601: Professional Engineering 2 (2019 - Semester 1)
| Unit: | MECH4601: Professional Engineering 2 (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Senior Advanced |
| Faculty/School: | School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
Prof Kent, John
Mr Butler, Rhett |
| Session options: | Semester 1 |
| Versions for this Unit: | |
| Site(s) for this Unit: |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | None. |
| Prohibitions: | AMME4010. |
| 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). 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 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 project management, safety and environmental fields); understand what the experts are saying, and be able to contribute effectively to that discussion. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | ENGG4000. It is recommended that you have undertaken ENGG4000 Practical Experience in a period prior to undertaking this course, or be able to demonstrate equivalent understanding of professional practice as some assessment tasks will draw upon your experiences in professional engineering practice. |
| Lecturer/s: |
Mr Butler, Rhett
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| Tutor/s: | To be advised on course outline distributed in lecture 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Timetable: | MECH4601 Timetable | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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| T&L Activities: | Tutorial: Computer based tutorials in weeks 2&3 using MS Project. Group tutorials focused on peer based learning. Intensive group based project to strengthen team work, project management, written communication and engineering research skills. Presentation: Held during tutorial sessions, 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 research report, major group project. | (6) Communication and Inquiry/ Research (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. | (7) Project and Team Skills (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. | (8) Professional Effectiveness and Ethical Conduct (Level 3) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018.
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.
(8) Professional Effectiveness and Ethical Conduct (Level 3)| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: |
* Indicates an assessment task which must be repeated if a student misses it due to special consideration. Presentation/Seminar: Each student is 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. Tutorials: Strong emphasis on teamwork, students are required to attend every week as scheduled in UoS outline. Quiz: Multiple choice/short answer CLOSED BOOK quiz on lecture and/or tutorial material from the unit of study. Major Project: Group project focused on use of team work & communication skills to research a problem and propose a feasible solution. |
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| Assessment Feedback: | Feedback will aim to be generated and returned within 10 working days of the task due date. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grading: |
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| 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 |
Introduction to Major Projects Technical Report Writing Key Professional Engineering Skills |
| Week 3 |
Oral Communication Skills Industry guest lecturer : during tutorial session |
| Week 4 |
Principles of Project Management. Student Assessment 1 for oral presentation - all tutorial weeks 4 through 8. Mandatory attendance required at tutorials for peer assessments |
| Week 5 | Ethics and socially responsible engineering |
| Week 6 | Work health and Safety (WHS), risk assessments |
| Week 7 | Total quality management/maintenance |
| Week 8 | Industrial relations |
| Guest - Professionals Australia | |
| Week 9 | Management skills, teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution |
| Assessment Due: Technical Report* | |
| Week 10 | Sustainability concepts & environmental considerations |
| Week 11 |
Quantitative Risk Analysis Engineering Project Economics Feasibility and Project Cost Assessment |
| Week 12 | Industry guest lecturer |
| Assessment Due: Quiz - During student`s timetabled tutorial* | |
| Week 13 | Course revision/summary |
| Assessment Due: Major Group Project |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| (8) Professional Effectiveness and Ethical Conduct (Level 3) | Yes | 43% |
| (7) Project and Team Skills (Level 3) | Yes | 23% |
| (6) Communication and Inquiry/ Research (Level 3) | Yes | 34% |
These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 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.
