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Course Outline

SUS310 Sustainability Project

Course Coordinator:Patrick Nunn (pnunn@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This capstone course is your opportunity to advance your knowledge and skills in sustainability and apply these to contemporary issues. You'll work with your peers and leading researchers from the Sustainability Research Centre to develop skills in research, organization and project management. Select an issue and approach relevant to your chosen profession and you'll be equipped with essential experience and connections.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus Workshop - 3 Hours 3hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

Request for proposals (RFP)

Framing a Sustainability Issue

Stakeholding

Project planning

Implementation & review

Communicating findings

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Research and identify sustainability issues relevant to a particular discipline or professional interest. Knowledgeable
Sustainability-focussed
2 Evaluate, analyse and critique how issues may be framed across diverse contexts. Ethical
Sustainability-focussed
3 Reflect on and evaluate a range of approaches to address applicable to sustainability issues and consider the implications of them. Empowered
Sustainability-focussed
4 Communicate sustainability principles with accuracy and credibility to a target audience. Engaged
5 Develop dynamic approaches for achieving sustainability that anticipate and overcome barriers to the introduction of sustainable practices. Sustainability-focussed

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

SUS101 and (SUS201 or SUS202 or SUS302)

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Foundation and advanced knowledge in sustainability principles, theory and application.

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Feedback will be provided on a weekly basis during class, in preparation for task 1. You will meet with course coordinator weekly, and with your project mentor at least 3 times over the semester. This is critical for development of your first report (problem statement) and the timely development, implementation and reporting of your project.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Report Individual 15% 
1500 words
 Week 3 Online Submission
All 2 Report Individual 30% 
1000 words
 Week 5 Online Submission
All 3 Report Individual 40% 
2500 words
 Week 13 Online Submission
All 4 Report Individual 15% 
Assessed throughout plus 10 min formative presentation
 Week 12 In Class
All - Assessment Task 1:Problem identification
Goal: 
To demonstrate your ability to effectively identify and define a sustainability issue with reference to diverse stakeholder perspectives and credible evidence.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Individual 1500 word report in which you effectively identify and define a sustainability issue with reference to diverse stakeholder perspectives and supported with credible evidence. Additional information will be provided on Blackboard.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Present a clear, exposition of sustainability knowledge principles applicable to your project
 1 2 4
2 
Identify a range of stakeholders relevant to your issue and describe their interests
 1 2 4 5
3 
Use a combination of research and evidence based resources to provide background and direction for your project
 1 2 3 4
4 
Appropriate structure and presentation including quality syntax and grammar
 4
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Investigation plan
Goal: 
To demonstrate your ability to select and design an appropriate approach to address an identified sustainability issue.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Individual 1000 word report in which you select and design an appropriate approach for addressing an identified sustainability issue. In this task, you will identify a range of possible investigation approaches, drawing on research to justify your chosen approach and creating a detailed action plan. Additional information will be provided on Blackboard.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Identify a range of possible approaches to address complex sustainability issues
 2 3 4
2 
Draw on research evidence to select and justify an effective approach to your sustainability issue
 1 2 3 4
3 
Create a detailed action plan to achieve sustainability outcomes
 3 4 5
4 
Ensure the quality of syntax and grammar in your report
 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Project report
Goal: 
To work independently to communicate project findings and sustainability messages to a target audience.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Your project report will communicate your project findings and detail the sustainability messages for the target audience. In this task, you will identify and describe the barriers and opportunities to sustainable practice and suggest solutions based on adaptive and sustainability principles.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Present a clear, coherent analysis of your project identify and describe barriers and opportunities to enhanced sustainable practice
 2 3 4
2 
Suggest solutions based on sustainability principles
 4 5
3 
Draw on research to ensure the quality of evidence including references
 1 2 3 4
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 4:Professional Engagement
Goal: 
To demonstrate effective professional engagement.
Product: Report
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Submit: Week 12, as allotted. 

Your project report will communicate your project findings and detail the sustainability messages for the target audience. In this task you will identify and describe the barriers and opportunities to sustainable practice and suggest solutions based on adaptive and sustainability principles.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Quality and regularity of engagement with project mentor
 4 5
2 
Quality and regularity of engagement with project co-ordinator
 4 5
3 
Quality and appropriateness of engagement with other professional persons
 4 5
4 
Delivery of a 10 minute formative presentation on your project, including one slide on professional engagement
 4
Generic Skills: 

                        

                    

                

        

    

    

        

            

                
Directed study hours

                
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

            

        

    


    

        

            

                
What resources do I need to undertake this course?

                

                    Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
                

            


            

                
Prescribed text(s) or course reader

                    
There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

            

        


        

            

                
Specific requirements

                    
Nil

            

        

    


    

        

            
How are risks managed in this course?

            
Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

        

    


    

        
What administrative information is relevant to this course?


        

            

                
Assessment: Academic Integrity

                
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Additional Requirements

                Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.
            

        


        

            

                
Assessment: Submission penalties

                Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
            

        


        

            

                
Links to relevant University policy and procedures

                
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

            

        


        

            

                
Student Charter

                
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful.  The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

            

        


        

            

                
General Enquiries

                
  • In person: 
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au

            

        

    







    

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