MEC4404 - Professional practice

Overview

This unit provides you with an understanding of the work environment of a professional engineer addressing topics not covered in other parts of the degree program. It allows you to more effectively use your engineering skills within the context of a business environment and assists you to add value to the community. You will be encouraged to evaluate problems from a multi-faceted perspective and to articulate your views in writing as well as in discussion. The unit provides a balance between global macro issues likely to influence your future work environment, and more current micro issues likely to confront you in establishing yourself as a professional engineer.

Requisites

Prohibition

Rules

Enrolment Rule

Notes

Replace MEC4404 with one Professional Practice domain unit from Semester 1, 2025.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

Appreciate the ethical responsibilities of a professional engineer, together with the role and contribution of engineers in society.

Apply the legal, health and safety knowledge of a professional engineer.

Apply the basics of engineering economics, particularly the time value of money, simple and compound interest rates, rates of return and cash flows.

Demonstrate the ability to transit from university to a professional engineering role, successfully completing job applications, interviews, career planning and performance management.

Appreciate the need for sustainable development and assess the environmental impact of engineering projects in the context of sustainable development.

Teaching approach

Peer assisted learning

Case-based teaching

Active learning

Enquiry-based learning

Online learning

Problem-based learning

Assessment summary

Continuous assessment: 50%

Final assessment: 50%

This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Workload requirements

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Learning resources

Required resources

All learning resources will be made available to you via the MAE4404/MEC4404 Moodle site. In addition, you are encouraged to read widely on a range of topical issues consistent with `Professional engineering practice’. For example, world affairs, the business environment, government policy, current/proposed infrastructure projects, social demographics, trends in the employment market and issues relevant to the environment and sustainability among many others, are relevant to an informed `engineering professional’ able to converse across a broad range of topics.

Recommended resources

Other unit costs

The following item is mandatory for practical aspects of the unit and should be purchased at your own cost as you will be reusing them throughout your course.

Calculator

Availability in areas of study

E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Specialisation: Aerospace engineering
E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Specialisation: Biomedical engineering
E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Specialisation: Mechanical engineering