Unit Outline

In this unit, you will be introduced to the concept of sustainability starting with the transformations necessary for achieving the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a way that organises them into 6 logical groups. You will examine each grouping and how collectively they form a framework for accelerating progress, in line with the latest global efforts to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and a just, and sustainable world by 2050 within safe planetary limits. This deeply interdisciplinary unit explores transformation across education, health, energy, sustainable food production, land, water and oceans, sustainable cities and communities. Along with the transformations you will identify the environmental, social, and economic implications of traditional production, processing and manufacturing systems at local and global scales and learn why we need to rethink and redesign the way we make and consume things. You will learn how decoupling, digital transformation and circular design must underpin all of these transformations. As immediate and ambitious action is necessary to achieve a sustainable future, you will explore, ‘how are we going to get there?’ as well as your own role in contributing to change. This unit also introduces learning through practice by exposing you to authentic learning experiences. These experiences are placed at the centre of learning and assessment, so you have the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to respond to industry, community and/or global needs. You will be introduced to: - a range of methods, tools, techniques and approaches to practice - principles and perspectives such as values, ethics, empathy and leadership in real world scenarios - reflection and deliberative thinking as a means of developing knowledge, skills, attitudes and aspirations - ways of understanding problems and developing solutions through active inquiry.

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.	Identify and assess the environmental, social and economic implications for a sustainable world
2.	Describe approaches to sustainability that allow us to rethink and redesign production and consumption
3.	Communicate information to support decision-making for sustainable outcomes and propose solutions or innovations
4.	Reflect on your own role and approaches to practice that contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	ZAS108

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Assessment Task Descriptions have been improved for clarity.

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:	Environmental Scan (E-Scan)	Week 3	20 %	LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Photographic Essay	Week 8	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Circular Design Poster	Week 12	45 %	LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Environmental Scan (E-Scan)

Task Description:

E-Scans are a useful way of garnering insight into contemporary challenges within sectors and across societal groups and how these issues may be perceived.
For this assessment, you will be using the E-Scan approach to explore sustainability issues within your discipline and how these issues are portrayed through the lenses of academia; government; advocacy groups/NGOs; and the media.
Topics will be provided in the assessment task sheet.
You will review a range of sources, that will be discussed during tutorials, to compile the list. The information should be presented succinctly using mainly dot points that are supported by diagrams, tables, or maps. The information should be organised by way of headings and fit onto two A4 sheets.

Write a 200 word reflection on the your learnings through this assessment. You will be provided with examples during the Tutorial.

Task Length:

Two A4 pages + references and a 200 word reflection

Due Date:

Week 3

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Use evidence from literature and industry sources to support descriptions and evaluations of contemporary issues	LO1
2	Analyse information to support decision-making, problem solving or innovation for sustainable outcomes	LO1
3	Communicate ideas and information using E- scan format	LO3
4	Identify relevant sustainable development goals	LO1
5	Reflect on the process of learning through development of an e-scan	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Photographic Essay

Task Description:

You will design and produce a photographic essay that illustrates your understanding of sustainability, by identifying the challenges faced in a natural resource based industry. The selected photos and your annotations will highlight the specific challenges that emerging economies face, compared to developed economies and which of the six transformations for achieving the SDGs BY 2030 this challenge should be supported by, and how. The selection and formatting of images must be logically set out and collectively establish a theme. You will give explanation to the images by way of captions, that contain both descriptive and explanatory information. See assessment instructions in MyLO for detailed information. This will be made available at least two weeks before the due date.

Task Length:

6 images in total, each with ~100-word annotation per image 4-5 images for the emerging economy 1-2 images in developed economy 100 word introduction 150 word conclusion

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify sustainability issues in an emerging economy	LO1
2	Differentiate sustainability issues between emerging and developed economies	LO2
3	Assess and communicatee ideas and information in visual representations	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Circular Design Poster

Task Description:

You will identify and investigate a circular-design product from your specialisation or an industry of your choice and create a poster that explains and depicts:
a. what is meant by the term ‘circular economy’,
b. how it is different to a ‘linear economy’
c. the key elements of circular design with reference to your example,
d. the circular design example, and
e. the key challenges for broad adoption of a circular economy and how you can personally encourage and engage in it (reflection)
In-text citations must be included in the poster body-text in Harvard-style.
A full reference list in Harvard style must be provided on a separate A4 sheet

Task Length:

A3 Poster (500 words + 300 word reflection) plus reference list

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

45 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Compare a circular economy with a linear economy	LO2
2	Analyse an existing example of a circular design	LO2
3	Communicate ideas and information using prescribed formats and styles	LO3
4	Reflect on assessment task outcomes and personal responses	LO4

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.

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.