Overview

Infrastructure and technology projects have enormous potential to impact communities, culture and society. This unit aims to deepen students understanding of their social responsibility to create sustainable outcomes while working on industry-linked projects in teams. Students will explore the intersection of infrastructure, technology, and society at a local, national and international level. Within Australia, infrastructure projects occur on Country. Students will explore the concept of Caring for Country along with the diversity of Indigenous perspectives, knowledge systems, and contemporary issues that intersect with infrastructure and technology. This unit will introduce students to professional values, ethics, working cross-culturally, and professional purpose.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Consider and describe the social responsibility of STEM professionals and the social impacts of infrastructure and technology projects
  • Explore Indigenous perspectives, worldviews, knowledge systems, and contemporary issues intersecting with infrastructure and technology
  • Explain the importance of being able to work-cross culturally, understand local cultures and respectfully engage with community stakeholders, including Indigenous stakeholders, for successful and sustainable project outcomes
  • Apply relevant knowledge of infrastructure and technology in society to an industry-linked project
  • Communicate within teams and stakeholders using appropriate verbal, written, and technological approaches
  • Function as an effective team member using project management tools and demonstrating professionalism and ethical behaviour
  • Reflect on learning experiences to improve professional practice and explore professional purpose and values

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Live Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
1.00 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
8.50 12 weeks 102
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
PortfolioIndividual 20 - 40% 1,2,3,7 
ProjectIndividual/Group 60 - 80% 1,2,4,5,6 

Content

  • Social impacts of infrastructure and technology  
  • Local, national and global social responsibility
  • Introductory overview of regulatory requirements including social impact assessments and heritage protections
  • Professional values and ethics
  • Working cross-culturally
  • Indigenous history and culture in relation to infrastructure and technology
  • Contemporary Indigenous perspectives, worldviews, knowledge systems, and issues intersecting with infrastructure and technology. Including the concept of Caring for Country.
  • Professional purpose and reflective practice  

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.