University Handbook

Unit search

Search results

SEJ104 - Engineering in Society

Year	2026 unit information
Enrolment modes	Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Credit point(s)	1
EFTSL value	0.125
Unit chair	Trimester 1: Kaja Antlej
Prerequisite	Nil
Corequisite	STP010
Incompatible with	SEJ101, SEV101
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment	1 x 2 hour professional experience (studio) per week. Students are required to attend and participate in an online industry engagement day for this unit on the scheduled day during trimester intensive activities.
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment	Online and collaborative learning including a 1 x 2 hour professional experience (studio) per week. Students are required to attend and participate in an online industry engagement day on the scheduled day during trimester intensive activities as detailed in the unit site.
Typical study commitment	Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Content

In this project-based unit, you will explore the principles and practices of systems thinking within the context of sustainable engineering solutions. This interdisciplinary and future-oriented unit supports the development of your engineering and design capabilities through a focus on the process of design ideation, problem definition, and creative problem-solving. Alongside technical skills, you will also strengthen transferable skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and teamwork. By working on an authentic, real-world challenge, you will engage with societal, environmental, and economic considerations, while responding to the diverse values and needs of clients and end-users, including cultural and Indigenous perspectives. The unit also emphasises the social responsibility of engineers, highlighting the ethical and professional duty to create sustainable, inclusive, and impactful solutions that benefit both society and the environment.

Learning outcomes

Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).

ULO	These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can:	Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs)
ULO1	Define problems from a stakeholder and systems perspective and the ways in which they interrelate to develop solution strategies.	GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
ULO2	Recognize the importance of combining stakeholder expectations and requirements with economic, regulatory and sustainable development objectives when communicating complex ideas and justifying engineering solutions.	GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical Thinking
ULO3	Demonstrate transferrable employability skills by working collaboratively in a team to implement an authentic real world project that addresses environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable design.	GLO5: Problem Solving GLO7: Teamwork
ULO4	Demonstrate capacity for integrating engineering principles, ethical, cultural and Indigenous perspectives and understanding of societal impacts when making engineering decisions and developing solutions to address diverse stakeholder needs	GLO8: Global Citizenship

Assessment

Assessment Description	Student output	Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit)	Indicative due week
Assessment 1 Case study review	Written report, 1,000 words	25%	Week 5
Assessment 2 Career and professional development reflection	500 word reflection report	10%	Week 10
Assessment 3 Visual poster presentation	Development of a community information poster, and oral presentation	30% (15%, 15% (Visual presentation, oral presentation)	Week 11
Assessment 4 Sustainable design project (Group)	3,500 word group project report	35% (10%, 25%) (Work in-progress presentation, report submission)	Weeks 8 and 12

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning resource

There is no prescribed text. Unit materials are provided via the unit site. This includes unit topic readings and references to further information.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.

To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.

Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.

Unit fee information

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.