Unit Outline
SPE301
Sustainability Placement Experience
Semester 2, 2024
Catherine Elliott
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Catherine Elliott
Email: Catherine.Elliott@utas.edu.au
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
 
Immerse yourself in real-world sustainability by engaging in a sustainability-based placement experience. You will be presented with dynamic sustainability opportunities where you will apply your skills, knowledge and University studies to engage with industry and community led projects and participate in real-world sustainability solutions. 
Real-World Sustainability: Gain hands-on experience in understanding, addressing and providing sustainability-based solutions for government, private, and not-for-profit organisations while learning from professional mentors within the organisations themselves. 
Sustainability in Action: Translate University learning into meaningful change by applying sustainability frameworks and contributing to tackling complex challenges within the community and industry. 
Networking and Career Development: Build a valuable network of peers and industry contacts, enhancing your employability and career pathways within the field of sustainability and beyond. 
Whether your passion lies in environmental conservation, social justice, resilience, climate action or sustainable business practices, this placement will provide tools and techniques to empower you to drive meaningful change within your business or community.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Engage in sustainability-based project work in professional contexts.
2.
Create practice-based solutions within organisations by applying sustainability frameworks.
3.
Critically reflect and analyse the role of sustainability in an organisational setting.
4.
Critically analyse and reflect on the role of interdisciplinary teams and teamwork in creating solutions to sustainability challenges.
5.
Communicate sustainability ideas and outcomes effectively.
Alterations as a result of student feedback
 
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
The workshops and associated activities will support, guide and complement the placement experience through reflective practice, foster peer to peer interaction, and introduce key sustainability frameworks. Learning activities will vary and include reflection, group based activities and individual tasks. Workshops will also guide and support preparation for assessment items.
2
Study Period 3 times
Seminar
An introductory session introducing Sustainability, preparatory Professional Experience Placement (PEP) activities and expectations in work-based environments.
2
Once only
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Reflective discussion posts
Week 13
20 %
LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Sustainability Practice Report and Presentation
Week 13
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5
Assessment Task 3:
Sustainability Placement Application and Engagement
Week 13
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Reflective discussion posts
Task Description:
Informed by the placement experience and learning, student will reflect and contribute to discussion on the role of sustainability through practical, theoretical and personal context.

Submissions will be semi structured and guided and iterated as you progress through your placement.
Task Length:
4 reflective discussion posts 200-300 words each.
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Reflect on how sustainability relates to your skills, knowledge and University studies.
LO3
2
Consider the written feedback provided to you by your mentor, explain what you have learnt from the feedback and how you can build on or change your placement in response.
LO1
3
Reflect and consider the role of interdisciplinary teams and teamwork in sustainability project work, how does it aid and or hinder sustainability solutions.
LO4
4
Reflect on the career pathway of your mentor, consider how their pathway may differ or overlap with your own goals for your career, and what experiences you plan to pursue next.
LO1
 
Assessment Task 2: Sustainability Practice Report and Presentation
Task Description:
This assignment contains two parts of assessment. The Sustainability Practice Report will focus on sustainability solutions for or related to your sustainability placement. The report may include an executive summary (ES), a project overview (or associated tasks), steps undertaken, discipline knowledge or concepts applied (if applicable), and 3-5 key sustainability solutions or recommendations. For the second part of assessment students will present their placement outcomes and key learnings to an audience from their sustainability placement experience.
Task Length:
1500 words and a 4-5 minute presentation.
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
40 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply sustainability frameworks to sustainability based project work.
LO1, LO2
2
Communicate sustainability solutions in a written report.
LO5
3
Present sustainability outcomes and key learning to an audience orally informed from a sustainability based placement.
LO3, LO5
4
Compare sustainability frameworks and how they relate to and inform your placement project.
LO2, LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Sustainability Placement Application and Engagement
Task Description:
Apply your knowledge, skills and capabilities towards sustainability solutions in work based environments.

Seek and respond to written feedback from the workplace mentor on performance.

The context to sustainability project work is proposed by industry and community. Working with industry and community leaders you will, in teams or as an individual, assist an organisation in supporting and implementing sustainability initiatives and solutions.
Task Length:
11 placement days (1 day of placement equates to 7.35 hours of in-situ placement).
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply and complete a sustainability-based placement and associated project work.
LO1
2
Working in teams or as an individual within an organisation formulate and propose solutions to sustainability project work.
LO2, LO4
3
Seek written feedback from the workplace mentor on your performance while on placement.
LO1
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.