Course coordinator
Dr Philip Stewart
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
An elective course in the Master of Environmental Management 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.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Completion of at least 16 units towards the MEnvMan by the semester of enrolment
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ENVM3102, ENVM3112 and ENVM3113
Restrictions
Permission required to enrol. See course description for further information.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Philip Stewart
Timetable
Additional timetable information
Refer to the Resources available on InPlaceﾠ(UQ login details required). Contact environment@enquire.uq.edu.au if you have issues logging in.
You are required to complete 5 in 5 Science OHS Moduleﾠfor Science Faculty students prior to commencing Placement. This can be accessed via https://learn.uq.edu.au and is compulsory before enrolment in any placement course offered by The School of the Environment.ﾠ Instructions can be found on InPlace.
A pre-placement Orientation session will be held in orientation week. 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.ﾠ
To assist students with identifying potential host organisation and preparing application documents, resources are available via Science Placements Blackboard site. Visit the Faculty of Science website for more information. Resume and cover letter workshops are offered regularly by the UQ Student Employability Centre. Workshop details are advertised onﾠStudentHubﾠunder 'Events'.ﾠ
Aims and outcomes
This Course aims to provide students with practical field related experience in an organisation relating to environmental 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 presentation and a poster on the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Placement, Project |
Assessment 1 Project Plan
|
PASS/FAIL |
14/03/2025 5:00 pm |
| Poster |
Assessment 2 - Placement Project Poster
|
PASS/FAIL |
19/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Placement, Project |
Assessment 3 Placement Project Report
|
PASS/FAIL |
26/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Performance |
Assessment 4 - Placement Supervisor's Appraisal
|
PASS/FAIL |
26/05/2025 5:00 pm |
Assessment details
Assessment 1 Project Plan
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Placement, Project
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
14/03/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
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.
Project Plan Instructions, Format and Word Limits
- Each student is required to complete a ‘Project Plan’ using the format outlined 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 provided on Blackboard with each section titled with the Section heading listed in the template.
- There is no word limit per se, but recommended word lengths for relevant sections are provided below.
Please see Blackboard for full assessment details
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.
Assessments must be completed by the end of the student’s placement and while on placement, students will have the support from their industry placement organisation
See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Assessment 2 - Placement Project Poster
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Poster
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
19/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
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 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.
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
- Summary of your recommendations and key findings
- Any relevant acknowledgements
- Your name
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.
Submission guidelines
Upload via TurnItIn in Blackboard
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.
Assessments must be completed by the end of the student’s placement and while on placement, students will have the support from their industry placement organisation
See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Assessment 3 Placement Project Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Placement, Project
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
26/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
Note - The assessment for ENVM7535 is different to the assessment for ENVM3102. Please be sure to read, understand and follow the assessment instructions detailed in the ENVM7535 course profile.
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.
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 4000 words excluding title, abstract, citations and references, tables, figures, other illustrations, footnotes, and attachments. There is no penalty for exceeding the recommended word limit.
The full assessment details will be found in the courses Blackboard site in the Assessments folder.
Submission guidelines
Students are to upload their assessment via Turnitin on Blackboard
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.
Assessments must be completed by the end of the student’s placement and while on placement, students will have the support from their industry placement organisation
See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Assessment 4 - Placement Supervisor's Appraisal
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Performance
- Weight
- PASS/FAIL
- Due date
26/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
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. The feedback will be released to students following review by UQ.
Submission guidelines
The supervisor report will be coordinated by the Faculty Placement Team
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.
Assessments must be completed by the end of the student’s placement and while on placement, students will have the support from their industry placement organisation
See the Additional assessment information section further below for information relating to extension and deferral applications.
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: Demonstrated evidence of competency in meeting course learning objectives: To achieve a grade of P in this course, a student must meet all of the following criteria: Complete and submit ALLﾠassessment items;ﾠ Be awarded a Pass for each of the four (4) Pass/Fail assessment items; full attendance and participation at placement for a minimum of 270 hours. |
| F |
Course grade description: Insufficient evidence of competency in meeting course learning objectives: A student who does not meet all of the criteria to be awarded a P will be awarded an N. |
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.
Should you fail a course with a non-graded ‘N’, 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
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.
Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates
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. 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.Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.
Please note:
- Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
- Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
- If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
- If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. 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 written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
- If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
- For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum timeframe applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for timeframes. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
- An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total. If you are incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, you are advised to apply for Removal of Course.
- If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
- Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
- There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.
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, the UQ Student Employability Centreﾠcan provide assistance in the preparation of a cover letter and resume. A list of workshops offered by UQ Careers is also available on StudentHub.
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 |
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 |
Workshop |
Group meetings with academic supervisors (Workshop) 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. T Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
|
O-week (17 Feb - 23 Feb) |
General contact hours |
Orientation Workshop O Week - Introductory session for all students to discuss expectations for the placement and strategies for approaching the assigned project. |
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.