This postgraduate course builds individual capacity in professional skills, values and attributes in ways that directly complement a student’s technical expertise. Engineers work in an extraordinarily diverse range of contexts, most of which demand high-quality communication skills in order for specialists to function as effective problem-solvers, team members, project managers and contributors to local, national and international communities. The integration of a practical focus on these skills into the engineering curriculum reflects the contemporary expectations of professional organisations (e.g. Engineers Australia) and enhances the employment opportunities of graduates. Classes are limited to a maximum of 20 students.

Through successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Articulate a sound understanding of the professional attributes, responsibilities and ethics that apply to engineers in the Australian operating environment
• Approach engineering projects with improved analytical and collaborative problem-solving skills
• Develop and deliver high-quality oral presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Produce accurate, succinct and clear written material, including
  • Reports
  • Proposals
  • Correspondence 

30%  Continuous assessment (includes individual and group tasks)

25%  Oral presentation

25%  Researched report

20%  Seminar attendance and participation

NOTE: All assessment items must be submitted and passed in order to complete this course. Some assessment tasks will be jointly assessed by technical and non-technical staff.

This course consists of 12 one-hour lectures and 12 two-hour seminars. Students are required to attend one lecture and one seminar each week. Class participation is required; any student who is absent on more than three occasions and does not provide relevant medical certificates will be deemed to have failed this component of the course. In addition to the weekly lectures and seminars, students are expected to dedicate a further seven hours to this subject, including:

• preparing for lectures and seminars by completing the weekly readings and set tasks
• undertaking the necessary research, note-taking and drafting necessary for the production of high-quality major assessment tasks
• collaborating with peers to complete group assessment tasks
• monitoring personal academic progress to ensure that any issues are discussed with the lecturer or course convenor and remedied in a timely manner

successful completion of ENGN8150

Students entering this course are assumed to be proficient in listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in English. International students should have achieved an IELTS Overall Band Score of at least 7 or the equivalent standard in another specified test.

ANU Research School of Engineering E-brick: Professional Communication II (ENGN8160) – Professional Readings

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