Course coordinator
Dr Philip Stewart
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (18/11/2024 - 15/02/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
A compulsory course in the Bachelor of Environmental Management (Honours) program, where students complete a minimum 270 hours undertaking industry placement in an organisation external to the University. Students will work with their placement host organisation to develop and complete a specific project that is both meaningful to the organisation and of sufficient technical content to meet the academic requirements of the course. This project will allow students to gain practical field-related experience while developing and enhancing skills in report writing and project management.
Information about enrolling in a placement course, including registering your interest and application deadlines, can be found here: science.uq.edu.au/placements. Students may apply for UQ-sourced placement opportunities in a competitive selection process, or will source their own placement for Course Coordinator approval.
Industry Placement, a compulsory course for the Bachelor of Environmental Management (Honours) program, is a period of continuous, structured, course-related experienceﾠin an organisationﾠinvolved in sustainable development, management of natural & rural resources,ﾠincluding protected areas, wildlife andﾠproduction enterprises, orﾠservice industries related to environmental management. It is offered in the sixth semester of the degree for full-time students or equivalent for part-time students.
Studentsﾠare encouraged to actively seek a placement with an organisation in an area that particularly interests them. Many students have been employed by their host organisation after completing their industry placement, so the course also presents an opportunity for obtaining employment and the foundation for a career in environmental management.
While primary responsibility forﾠfinding a suitable host organisation lies with the student, some opportunities are solicited from repeat providers and advertised to registered students via InPlace. Students should begin seeking a placement up to six months before the start of the semester. To assist students with identifying potential host organisations and preparing application documents, career development workshops and resources are coordinated by the Science Placements Team.
Prior to commencing placement, students are required to complete the compulsory '5 in 5 Student Workplace Safety' module on Blackboard.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students must have completed at least #32 of the BEnvMan or BEnvMan (Hons) program to undertake this course.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Completion of at least 32 units towards the BEnvMan(Hons) by the semester of enrolment
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ENVM3521
Restrictions
Restricted to BEnvMan(Hons) students with permission to enrol. See course description for further information.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Philip Stewart
Tutor
Ms Anuradhi Jayasinghe
Mr Alex Watkins
Mx Laura Smith
Mr Hung Le
Ms Susie Fifoot
Ms Swastika Samanta
Head of year
Mr Edoardo Sperone
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Orientation
A pre-placement Orientation session held the week prior to the start of the semester. The Course Coordinator will provide further information on the Assessment activities for the course at that session. Students will also have an opportunity to meet their academic supervisors, discuss expectations for the placement, and ideas for approaching any assigned projects.
Group meetings with academic supervisors
Students are required to attend FOUR group workshop-style meetings with their supervisors during the semester. The specific dates and times will be organised directly between the academic supervisor and their assigned groups. The objectives of the meetings are to workshop ideas, suggestions and feedback for each assessment item.
Aims and outcomes
This Course aims to provide students with practical field related experience in an organisationﾠrelating toﾠenvironmental management. Students will gain experience in developing and completing a project which is of benefit to both them and the organisation. Students will also gain skills in producing a detailed final report, a recorded presentationﾠand a poster onﾠthe project undertaken.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate improved understanding of their preferred field of study and employment direction as well as relating theoretical knowledge to practice
LO2.
Demonstrate acquired practical skills and experience in a professional work environment including working with others and working independently
LO3.
Demonstrate project management skills including developing a project proposal and completing an agreed project (or projects) and presenting results within a specified time period
LO4.
Demonstrate an ability to comprehend and integrate with accepted workplace practices and policies as they apply to environmental management
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project |
Assessment 1 - Project Plan
|
PASS/FAIL |
6/12/2024 2:00 pm |
| Poster |
Assessment 2 - Placement Project Poster
|
PASS/FAIL |
7/02/2025 2:00 pm |
| Placement |
Placement Supervisor Report
|
PASS/FAIL |
On or before the end date of the student's industry placement |
| Project |
Assessment 3 - Placement Project Report
|
PASS/FAIL |
14/02/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Assessment 1 - Project Plan
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
6/12/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The purpose of this assessment item is to prepare a plan for your industry placement project. Your Project Plan will detail the plan of approach for the project. It should be developed in consultation with your academic supervisor. It is a very important part of the industry placement process. Whilst the assessment task is not intended to be onerous, it is important to do well so that you have a clear plan for your project.
- Each student is required to complete a ‘Project Plan’ using the format outlined in the Project Plan template available on Blackboard.
- This is an individual assessment. Students must submit their own work.
- Students are to write and submit their Project Plan in their own document (word or pdf).
- Structure your Project Plan according to the template on Blackboard (but not as a table), with each section titled with the Section heading listed.
- There is no word limit per se, but recommended word lengths for relevant sections are provided in the template.
Submission guidelines
Submit via the relevant Turnitin link on the course Blackboard site. No emailed assessments will be accepted.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
No late submissions are accepted.
Assessment 2 - Placement Project Poster
- Online
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Poster
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
7/02/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
In this assessment activity you are required to prepare a poster about your Industry Placement project. Subject to commercial confidentiality constraints, your poster may be displayed at School poster showcase event for incoming Industry Placement students, host organisations and employers (past, current and future), UQ staff and your peers. It is a good opportunity to showcase your work. In those sorts of forums and events, Posters are a useful way of communicating your work. Good posters strike an effective balance between attention-grabbing graphics and important detail to engage browsing attendees at the event.
Further information about the format of this assessment item are available on Blackboard.
Submission guidelines
Submit via the relevant Turnitin link on the course Blackboard site. No emailed assessments will be accepted.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
No late submissions accepted.
Placement Supervisor Report
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Placement
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
On or before the end date of the student's industry placement
- Other conditions
- Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Prior to completion of your placement, UQ will send a request via email to your placement supervisor to complete an assessment on your performance in the workplace. Supervisors will submit this report directly to UQ as per instructions in the email. Supervisors will be encouraged to use the report as an opportunity to conduct a formal feedback session with you, prompting you to reflect on your performance and taking an important step in your own professional development.
UQ will request that the placement supervisor submits this assessment item on or before the end date of the your industry placement. The formal feedback will be released to you following review by UQ.
Submission guidelines
Submission instructions will be emailed directly to the student's placement supervisor by the Faculty of Science Placements Team.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
The Faculty of Science Placements Team will contact placement supervisors to follow up on submission of this assessment item. Students will not be penalised for late submission.
Assessment 3 - Placement Project Report
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
14/02/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The Project Report required in this assessment should be considered as the main academic output of the course. The Project Report should provide a concise review of your Industry Placement Project. It should serve to complement any reports that you prepare for your Host Organisation as part of the Placement and as a record of your industry placement experience.
- Each student is required to complete a ‘Project Report’ using the format outlined in the Project Report template available on Blackboard.
- This is an individual assessment. Students must submit their own work.
- Students are to write and submit their Project Report in their own document (word or pdf).
- Structure your Project Plan according to the template on Blackboard (but not as a table), with each section titled with the Section heading listed.
- There is no word limit per se, but recommended word lengths for relevant sections are provided. The overall recommended word limit is 3000 words excluding title, abstract, citations and references, tables, figures, other illustrations, footnotes, and attachments. There is no penalty for exceeding the recommended word limit.
Submission guidelines
Submit via the relevant Turnitin link on the course Blackboard site. No emailed assessments will be accepted.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Pass/Fails | Description |
|---|---|
| P |
Course grade description: A "pass" grade is achieved if the student has (1) attended the placement and undertaken work provided to the satisfaction of the field supervisor and (2) submitted every assessment item to a satisfactory standard as described in the course profile. |
| F |
Course grade description: A "fail" grade is "achieved" if the student (1) fails to adequately attend the placement without sufficient reason given, (2) fails to undertake work provided to the satisfaction of the Placement Supervisorﾠwithout sufficient justification provided to the Course Coordinator, or (3) fails to submit every assessment item to a satisfactory standard as described in the course profile. |
Additional course grading information
Students must receive a grade of Pass in every assessment item to achieve a grade of Pass for the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Courses graded Pass/Fail
Should you fail a course, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of NSP, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Given that this is an Industry Placement course, there may be factors beyondﾠyour control that impact work schedules and deliverables. Submitting work on time is very important and therefore due dates should be taken very seriously, particularly in terms of the needs and expectations of your host organisation. In the event that your work is disrupted by factors beyondﾠyour control, please contact the Course Coordinator (before the due date) to discuss whether an extension to the relevant UQ assessment due date is possible.
In the event a submission is made but some sections are not provided or are incomplete or are not addressed in sufficient detail, the Course Coordinator may request students to revise and resubmit their submissions until it achieves a Pass standard.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing and submitting your assessment as soon as possible.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Turnitin
By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment.”
All students must ensure they receive their Turnitin receipt on submission of any assessments. A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after five days, will receive zero.
In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
When applying for a placement opportunity, theﾠUQ Career Development teamﾠcan provide assistance in the preparation of a cover letter and resume.
Thisﾠfact sheetﾠ(login required) outlines the University's insurance coverage for students undertaking APPROVED work-integrated learning placements. You may also wish to provide potential host organisations with a copy of the latest UQ Student Activities Insurance letter, which you can download from theﾠUQ Insurance Services website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Workshop |
Group meetings with academic supervisors Students are required to attend FOUR group workshop-style meetings with their supervisors during the semester. The specific dates and times will be organised directly between the academic supervisor and their assigned groups. The objectives of the meetings are to workshop ideas, suggestions and feedback for each assessment item. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Placement |
Industry Placement Students will attend the workplace to undertake project-related tasks and other productive work for the placement provider during agreed hours for the duration of semester. Placement details are confirmed in UQ's placement management system, InPlace. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
|
Week 1 (18 Nov - 24 Nov) |
General contact hours |
Orientation Workshop Introductory session (2 hours) for all students to discuss expectations for the placement and strategies for approaching the assigned project. The first hour is an overview of the course and assessment requirements, the second hour is group work with your academic supervisors. Both sessions are compulsory. Check timetable and Blackboard for details. Learning outcomes: L01, L04 |
Additional learning activity information
In preparation for this course and to assist students in securing an industry placement, the Faculty of Science Placements Team coordinates workshops on topics such as writing application documents and preparing for interviews. Visit the Science Placements website for more information: https://science.uq.edu.au/placements
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course: