ENVENG 702 : Engineering Decision Making in Aotearoa

Engineering

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced systems engineering based decision making; complex problem framing including ontology analysis; cultural opportunity mapping; absolute sustainability analysis; risk threshold determination; temporal cumulative effects; and effective consultation. Independent research is undertaken to solve a complex engineering decision making problem.

Course Overview

Engineering Decision Making in Aotearoa introduces students to some of the key frameworks utilised within Aotearoa New Zealand for the assessment of complex engineering projects. The course provides students with knowledge of the frameworks and their applications while utilising authentic learning practices to facilitate first-hand experience with effective community engagement and relationship building.
By the end of the course, students will be able to apply contextually informed reasoning (local knowledge, mātauranga Māori, alternate world views) to assess the wider impacts of complex engineering projects (societal, health, safety, legal, environmental and cultural). Students will be able to employ these skills to quantify the direct/indirect and short/long-term impacts on people, and the environment, identifying and justifying specific actions required. These skills will be contextualised within the Aotearoa New Zealand context, with emphasis on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Mauri Model Decision Making Framework and the Treasury's Living Standards Framework.
While academically focused, this course is designed to challenge students to think holistically, and provide them with the critical thinking skills and confidence to communicate effectively, support principles of co-design, and take into account multiple perspectives in the assessment of engineering projects and outcomes. By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the differences between stakeholder and mana whenua worldviews, which is utilised to inform integrated sustainability assessments incorporating different and competing priorities.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
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. Engage and collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders and their communities, culminating in the ability to assess, co-design, and deliver stakeholders supported outcomes: a) Demonstrate an appreciation of differing worldviews b) Demonstrate an ability to interact with communities and incorporate principles of i) Human-centred design/ co-design ii) Tikanga and kawa c) Confidence in effective and empathetic communication (Capability 1.1 and 8.1)
  2. Critically assess a complex engineering brief via multiple decision-making lenses, and provide an integrated recommendation (Capability 1.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 8.1)
  3. Illustrate understanding and competency to employ the following decision-making frameworks: a) Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Treaty of Waitangi b) Mauri Model Decision Making Framework c) Treasury's Living Standards Framework (Capability 2.1, 4.2 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Module Assessments 90% Individual Coursework
Framework critique 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Module Assessments
Framework critique

Workload Expectations

This course is a 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 an average weekly workload comprising a 1-hour lecture, a 2-hour interactive class discussion, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 5 hours of work on assignments and class projects.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials sessions will not be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/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.

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

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.

Previous changes to the assessment structure (less assessments overall), have been kept in place.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, 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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.