CIVIL 790 : Civil Engineering Administration

Engineering

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The application of legal, cultural, social and ethical principles to problems in civil engineering and environmental engineering management. Examines the administration of national and international engineering contracts. Discusses statutes affecting engineering business. Investigates the implications of resource management and natural resource allocation legislation on engineering projects. Analyses processes for resolving engineering disputes.

Course Overview

Civil 790 is aimed at preparing final year students for their careers in industry and complements the technical knowledge gained during their degree. Students will be introduced to the overall project lifecycle of an engineering project and how it relates to the work of an engineer. This includes an appreciation of stakeholders, their objectives and risks, assessing project feasibility, government regulatory processes, a working practical knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and an understanding of engineering contracts. Many engineers will be required to administer the standard contract NZS3910 and this is covered in depth. Meeting obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and engagement with Mana Whenua is of paramount importance to engineering in New Zealand. The principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi are presented along with practical guidance on how to engage with and include Māori treaty partners in the decision-making process. The course also covers professional engineering ethics and the obligations of an engineer in regard to professional competency, integrity and obligations to society.

Course Requirements

Restriction: CIVIL 401, 490, ENGGEN 734

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate and demonstrate an appreciation of the project life-cycle, an understanding of stakeholders, their motivation, and the relationships between them as well as the relevant government legislation and local body processes including the Resource Management Act (1991), the Building Act and Standards, Resource and Building Consents, Compliance Certification and Producer Statements. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 8.1)
  2. Demonstrate working knowledge of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, and its practical application in civil engineering, including obligations and responsibilities of all project stakeholders including clients, consultants, contractors, and suppliers. The emphasis is on the practical application of the act. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  3. Develop knowledge of the contract tendering process and engineering contracts including professional services contracts and construction contracts. Administration and implementation of NZS3910, and the Construction Contracts Act are covered in detail. (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 8.1)
  4. Develop a good understanding of the principles of Mana Whenua, the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori values and interests and learn how to engage with Maori communities in decision-making processes. (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 8.1)
  5. Develop and demonstrate an understanding of professional engineering ethics, and the obligations of an engineer in regard to professional competency, integrity, and obligations to society. (Capability 1.1, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments and Quizzes 50% Group & Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments and Quizzes
Final Exam
A. Exam
      Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
B. Minimum Pass Mark
      A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.
B.Assessment Late Submission Policy
      Penalties will apply to late submissions as follows:
      1. Assignments
           Time After the Due Date
           Penalty
           <=24 hours (1 day)
           -10%
           >24 hours but <=48 hours (2 days)
           -20%
           >48 hours but <=72 hours (3 days)
           -30%
           >72 hours but <=96 hours (4 days)
           -40%
           >96 hours but <=168 hours (7 days)
           -50%
           >168 hours (7 days)
           -100%
      2. Quizzes
           A quiz needs to be completed and submitted before the due date in order for it to be graded. The quiz software will not accommodate late submissions.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, 12 hours of tutorial, 24 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 90 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials and seminars to receive credit components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars and tutorials may be available as recordings.
The course may include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
NZS3910:2003 Conditions of Contract for Building and Civil Engineering Construction, Standards Association of New Zealand
Conditions of Contract for Consultancy Services, Second Edition, January 2005, Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand Inc
Management for the New Zealand Construction Industry, 2010 edition, Suzanne Wilkinson & Rosemary Scofield, Pearson Originals, ISBN:978-1-4425-0994-8
Other materials will be provided during the course.

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy. Should any further activities, other than traditional lectures and tutorials, be arranged such as site visits, a Health and Safety assessment for the specic activity will be carried out with the implementation of necessary procedures to mitigate any identied hazards and risks.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Over the past couple of years due to timetabling constraints, lectures and tutorials have been held late in the afternoon from 4 to 6pm on Thursdays and Fridays. The timetable schedulers are continuing to try and schedule the lectures to a more suitable time. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.