Course coordinator
Dr Philip Stewart
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (25/11/2024 - 08/02/2025)
- 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 program, isﾠaﾠperiod 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.
While primary responsibility forﾠfinding a suitable host organisation lies with the student, some opportunities are solicited from repeat providers and advertised through the School. Studentsﾠare encouraged to actively seek a placement with an organisation in an area that particularly interests them well before the semester begins. 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.
Domestic students are encouraged to pursue industryﾠplacement opportunities locally and in Queensland regional areas. Students currently in their home countries and unable to return to Australia due to current travel bans are encouraged to pursue industry placement opportunities in their home country/ town.ﾠ
Resume and cover letter workshops are available through the Student Employability Centre, to assist students in preparing application documents.
Prior to commencing placement, students are required to complete the compulsory 5 in 5 Science OHS Module forﾠFaculty of Science students. See the section 3.1 of the course profile for more information.
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
A pre-placement Orientation session will be held prior to Week 1 of Summer Semester. Whilst not compulsory, students are encouraged to attend or at least review the recording. The Course Coordinator will provide further information on the Assessment activities for the course at that session.
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, workshops and resources are provided by theﾠUQ Career Development team.
To assist students with identifying potential host organisations and preparing application documents, resume and cover letter workshops are offered regularly by theﾠUQ Student Employability Centre. Workshop details are advertised onﾠStudentHubﾠunder 'Events'.
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 |
9/08/2024 2:00 pm
Week 3 |
| Poster |
Assessment 3 - Placement Project Poster
|
PASS/FAIL |
25/10/2024 2:00 pm |
| Placement |
Assessment 2 - Placement Supervisor's Appraisal
|
PASS/FAIL |
25/10/2024 2:00 pm |
| Project |
Assessment 4 - Placement Project Report
|
PASS/FAIL |
24/10/2024 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Assessment 1 - Project Plan
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
9/08/2024 2:00 pm
Week 3
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
ENVM3102 Project Plan Semester 2 - 2024
Contents
1. Preface
2. Project Plan Instructions, Format and Word Limits
3. Due Dates and Late Penalties
4. Submission Method and Marking System
5. Formatting and Referencing Requirements
1. Preface
The purpose of this assessment item is to prepare a plan for your industry placement project. The Project Plan should 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.
2. Project Plan Instructions, Format and Word Limits
- Each student is required to complete a ‘Project Plan’ using the format outlined in the table below.
- 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 provided below (but not as a table), with each section titled with the Section heading listed in the table below.
- There is no word limit per se, but recommended word lengths for relevant sections are provided below.
Project Plan Template
Section
Suggested Content
Word Length
1. What is the Title of your project?
You can choose your own title. Good titles have meaning and give the reader insight into what the report is about. For example, ‘Assignment ENVM3102’ has no effective meaning, but this one does: 'A survey of frog species abundance and distribution in the upper parts of Oxley Creek Queensland'.
No more than 30 words.
2. What is the Aim of your project?
This should be one clear sentence that provides a succinct summary of what you report aims to achieve. For example, for the frog project noted above, the Aim could be: What is the abundance and distribution of frog species in the upper parts of Oxley Creek Queensland?
No more than 30 words.
3. What are the Objectives of your project?
These should be written as no more than three specific Objectives that in effect, break the Aim down into manageable parts. For example:
1. What is the abundance of frog species in the upper parts of Oxley Creek Queensland’?
2. What is the diversity of frog species in the upper parts of Oxley Creek Queensland?
3. What factors may be influencing the abundance and diversity of frog species in the upper parts of Oxley Creek?
No more than 30 words per Objective, no more than three Objectives.
4. How will your project have ‘Im
Submission guidelines
Submit via the relevant Turn-it-in link on the course blackboard site
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessment 3 - Placement Project Poster
- Online
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Poster
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
25/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
ENVM3102 Poster - Semester 2 - 2024
Contents
1. Preface
2. Poster Instructions, Format and Word Limits
3. Due Dates and Late Penalties
4. Submission Method and Marking System
5. Formatting and Referencing Requirements
1. Preface
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 next year’s ‘Industry Placement Poster Showcase Event’ convened by the school, that will be attended by 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.
2. Poster Instructions, Format and Word Limits
- Each student is required to complete a ‘Poster’ as per the following instructions.
- This is an individual assessment. Students must submit their own work.
- For some tips on what makes a good scientific poster see:
https://web.library.uq.edu.au/node/4290/4 (UQ Library)
https://guides.nyu.edu/posters
https://hsp.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/ScientificPosters.pdf
- Students should submit their poster in PowerPoint or PDF.
- Good quality posters do not just display thousands of words. They offer a concise summary, usually with some meaningful and compelling graphics, and work to attract and engage readers.
- There will be some examples of good posters from previous cohorts of the course available for your review on the course Blackboard site.
- Your poster should include:
- The title of your project
- An introduction to your project highlighting why it is important
- A summary of your methods
- A summary of your results
- A summary of your recommendations and key findings
- Any relevant acknowledgements
- Your name
3. Due Dates and Late Penalties
- The submission date is listed in the Course Profile.
- Extensions must be negotiated in advance of the due date.
- Late submissions must be approved by the Course Coordinator, or they will receive a grade of Fail.
4. Submission Method and Marking System
- This assignment is assessed as PASS/FAIL.
- The Course Coordinator may request students to revise and resubmit the assignment if it is incomplete, until it meets Pass standards (see criteria).
- Make your submission as a word document or pdf.
- Make your submission via the Turnitin link on the course blackboard page before the due date.
- Include your name on the poster.
5. Formatting and Referencing Requirements
- Whilst there is no specific formatting requirement for the post (you choose what you think is best for your project to achieve the purpose of the activity) please note the following advice from the UQ Library about how t
Submission guidelines
Submit via the relevant TurnItIn link on the course blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessment 2 - Placement Supervisor's Appraisal
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Placement
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
25/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Work integrated learning.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
ENVM3102 Progress Report Summer Semester 2023
Contents
1. Preface
2. Questionnaire Instructions
3. Due Dates and Late Penalties
4. Submission Method and Marking System
1. Preface
The purpose of this assessment is to get some feedback from your Placement Supervisor (i.e., you supervisor at your host organisation) on how you performed in the Placement activity. The assessment takes the form of a questionnaire that you complete with your supervisor at the end of the Placement. The intention is for the questionnaire to be a constructive opportunity that allows you to reflect on and learn from the Industry Placement experience and apply those learnings in your future career. If any critical or negative feedback is received, it is an opportunity to communicate effectively, learn and improve. If required, you can involve the Course Coordinator to help mediate positive outcomes.
2. Questionnaire Instructions
- Each student is required to complete a progress report Questionnaire with their Placement Supervisor.
- Students are required to schedule a time to meet with and jointly complete the Questionnaire with their Placement Supervisor.
- In the event the Industry Supervisor indicates that the student has been performing less than satisfactory in the Industry Placement activity, the student must discuss the results of the questionnaire with the Course Coordinator.
- This is an individual assessment.
- The Questionnaire includes the following questions. The questions are included below simply for reference. Please refer to the guidelines on how to complete and submit the Questionnaire. Students are required to access the ePortfolio PSR links via Blackboard submission link in the ‘Assessment folder’. Once they have completed their self-assessment, they then submit to their Placement Supervisors email. The Provider Handbook contains instructions for providers to complete their component.
Using a 1-7 scale (1 Very Poor, 2 Poor, 3 Below Acceptable Standard, 4 Satisfactory, 5 Good, 6 Very Good, 7 Excellent), please select the level that best expresses your overall judgement of the student in each criterion below.
- Ability to learn and interpret instructions:
- Collaboration skills, ability to work as part of a team:
- Ability to work independently, level of supervision required:
- Ability to accept feedback and alter behaviour in response:
- Self-discipline and organisation, ability to meet deadlines:
- Quality of work produced:
- Progress towards organisational objectives for project/placement:
- Ability to communicate with all levels of staff in organisation:
- Attitude, interest, and initiative:
- General presentation (attendance, punctuality, suitability of attire):
General Comments:
- The description of and performance on the major tasks assigned
- The strengths of the student and any areas that may need improvement
3. Due Dates and Late Penalties
- The submission date is listed in the Course Profile.
- Extensions must be negotiated in advance of the due date.
- Late submissions must be approved by the Course Coordinator, or they will receive a grade of Fail.
4. Submission
Submission guidelines
ﾕ Students are required to access the ePortfolio PSR links via Blackboard submission link in the ﾑAssessment folderﾒ. Once they have completed their self-assessment, they then submit to their Placement Supervisors email. The Provider Handbook contains instructions for providers to complete their component.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 21 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Assessment 4 - Placement Project Report
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
24/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
ENVM3102 Project Report - Semester 2 - 2024
Contents
1. Preface
2. Project Report Instructions, Format and Word Limits
3. Due Dates and Late Penalties
4. Submission Method and Marking System
5. Formatting and Referencing Requirements
1. Preface
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.
2. Project Report Instructions, Format and Word Limits
- Each student is required to complete a ‘Project Report’ using the format outlined in the table below.
- 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 provided below, with each section titled with the Section heading listed in the table below.
- There is no word limit per se, but recommended word lengths for relevant sections are provided below. 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.
Project Report Template
Section
Suggested Content
Word Length
Title
Good titles have meaning and give the reader insight into what the report is about. As was noted in the Project Plan instructions, ‘Assignment ENVM3102’ has no effective meaning, but this one does: ‘A survey of frog species abundance and distribution in the upper parts of Oxley Creek Queensland’.
No more than 30 words.
Executive Summary/Abstract
An Executive Summary or Abstract is a summary of your report. Ideally, it should have four parts: (1) a one sentence summary of what the project was about; (2) a statement of why the project is impactful, important, unique, or interesting; (3) a summary of your methods; (3) a summary of your results; and (4) a summary of your key findings or recommendations.
No more than 250 words. Anything longer loses its usefulness as a summary.
Introduction
Your Introduction should summarise what you did, discuss the project rationale, explain your Aims and Objectives, and explain how the project is impactful, important, unique, or interesting.
No more than 250 words.
Literature Review
The literature review is an important part of your Project Report in that it is how you can demonstrate that you have captured the current st
Submission guidelines
Submit via the Turn-it-in link provided on the course blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 21 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Additional course grading information
Students must receive a grade of Pass in every assessment activity to Pass the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Courses graded 1-7
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, 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 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Given that this is an Industry Placement course with a Pass/Fail marking system, where various factors beyondﾠour control may 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 to discuss whether an extension to the relevant UQ assessment due date is possible. Extension requests must still be made via the information provided under Section 5.3 by the due date and time of the assessment item. 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.
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.”
A valid Turnitin receipt can be downloaded after submission and will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the late penaltyﾠwill be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved.
In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the environment@enquire.uq.edu.au as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE (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
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
Library resources are available 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.
ﾠ
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. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
|
General contact hours |
Orientation Workshop 0 Week - Introductory session for all students to discuss expectations for the placement and strategies for approaching the assigned project. 10:00-11:00 is Career Development Workshop, 11:00-13:00 is the allocated time for the course workshop with Course Coordinator and academic supervisors. Both sessions are compulsory. Learning outcomes: L01, L04 |
Additional learning activity information
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.
Course guidelines