ENGGEN 738 : Work Based Learning

Engineering

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Studies in professional and interpersonal skills within the context of engineering and project management practice. Develops ability to critically self-assess competencies. Fosters and enhances competencies in preparation towards membership of a professional body via application of theory and exploration of work practices. Students prepare a portfolio of independent work demonstrating competencies required of a Chartered professional at an advanced level.

Course Overview

This course develops the professional engineer or professional project manager with an enhanced understanding of the correlation between theory and practice, utilising a reflective practitioner framework aligned to professional competency standards. The course will deliver, through a series of continually assessed reflective coursework and a work diary project, recognition of workplace learning. Professional practice experience is leveraged as a learning environment and as an ongoing component of the engineering continuous professional development. The work based learning practices can be aligned to the expectations for either a Chartered Engineer or a Chartered Project Manager.

Outcomes from the course are:-
  • Understanding of the totality of the professional practitioner.
  • Understanding the application of theory to the development of engineering and/or project management procedures and processes.
  • Enhanced ability to question concepts and approaches adopted in industry professional practice.
  • Establishing the relationship between the theoretical and practical aspects of the discipline specialization to industry.
Throughout the semester students progress through a series of work experience related tasks. There are no formal lectures with this course. Rather flexible learning methods are adopted in which supervision and/or supervision meetings are offered adopting a mentoring model. Students are expected to undertake considerable additional work per week reading and completing assignments. Note that the assignments are based on the workplace projects that the student is currently undertaking or has recently completed, and hence the course requirements for professional employment outlined below.

Course Requirements

Restriction: CIVIL 708 Note: Students must be in professional employment or have completed at least three years' professional employment within engineering.

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate continuity of professional development sufficient to meet the requirements for chartered membership of Engineering New Zealand (EngNZ), Association for Project Management (APM) or other professional body (Capability 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  2. Apply personal and social skills, and demonstrate well-developed self-awareness of ability, aptitude, and character (Capability 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  3. Apply work disciplines, routines, self-confidence and maturity to further advance their professional effectiveness (Capability 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 8.1 and 8.2)
  4. Use analytical problem-solving techniques under supervision in a working environment (Capability 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
  5. Demonstrate transferable skills in various work contexts, such as industrial and public relations, business and industrial procedures, management, and interpretation of procedures and programmes of work (Capability 1.1, 3.2, 4.2 and 5.1)
  6. Demonstrate self-reliance and contribution to team outcomes when working to deadlines (Capability 1.1, 5.1, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Professional Development Journal 20% Individual Coursework
Portfolio 80% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Professional Development Journal
Portfolio

The Portfolio consists of assignments designed to align with the professional competencies identified by either EngNZ or APM (or other similar professional body) as required for becoming a chartered member of the professional body. 

A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.

Late submissions are highly discouraged and extensions of time are not allowed for reasons of students being busy in the workplace or employment. It is possible to submit late for the assignments, but a late submission penalty will be applied. The schedule of penalties is stated in the course site (Canvas).

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours for each point (i.e. a total of 150 hours over the whole semester).

For this course, you can expect regular tutorials, and approximately 10-12 hours per week of individual study, reading and thinking about the content, reflections on work practices and  work on assignments. 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience

Attendance is recommended at scheduled activities including on-campus tutorials and discussion groups which are designed to support your learnings.
Lectures will be available as recordings. The on-campus student discussions will not be recorded.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and tutorials (further details see below).
Attendance on campus is not required for the assessments.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable tutorial.

Online

Attendance is recommended at scheduled online activities including tutorials and discussion groups which are designed to support your learnings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions and these will be recorded.
Attendance on campus is not required for the assessments.
Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement and supplementary materials released throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

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.

There are no prescribed texts since the learning experience from each student will be conditioned according to their professional work environment. A variety of recommended texts and resources are offered in the course to assist the student.
Websites:
  • https://www.engineeringnz.org
  • https://www.apm.org.uk

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.

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.

The course has been developed based on feedback from previous students and has been enhanced with additional online learning options.

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.

Published on 22/01/2025 09:17 a.m.