Space Innovation Research Challenge
Overview
The aim of this unit is for students to complete a team-based project by selecting and responding to a space industry partner brief that is aligned with the Australian Space Agency, National Civil Space Priority Areas. Students will learn collaboration, project management, research methods and critical thinking skills as they work in teams to meet client needs.
Requisites
175 Credit Points in a BA course
OR
275 Credit Points in a BH or BB course
01-June-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Analyse a real world problem in an organisational setting and recommend or develop solutions which are practical and effective utilising appropriate tools, techniques and methods
- Develop constructive arguments to justify proposed advice, recommendations or solutions
- Apply project management methods to appraise, plan, design, manage and execute a small-scale project
- Demonstrate intellectual independence as a critical and reflective learner
- Demonstrate professional behaviours through effective leadership, teamwork and communication skills with all project stakeholders
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Workshop | 3.00 | 12 weeks | 36 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 8.50 | 12 weeks | 102 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Individual | 25 - 50% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Portfolio | Group | 50 - 70% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Content
This unit provides students with an opportunity to work in a team with an academic supervisor and a space industry client. Client research briefs are aligned with the Australian Space Agency Civil space priority areas:
- Medicine and life sciences
- Position, navigation and timing
- Earth observation
- Communication technologies and services
- Space situational awareness and debris monitoring
- Leapfrog R&D
- Robotics and automation on Earth
- Space and access to space
During their project students will also learn
- Project management (planning, scope, time, cost, risk, stakeholders, project monitoring and closure)
- Team management (formation, roles, responsibilities, effective communication, conflict management, motivation, personalities and diversity, performance evaluation)
- Agile development (interactive, collaborative, adaptive, user-centric, iterative and empowered)
- Technical documentation and record keeping skill
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.