Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Michelle Power
Kevin Danastas
|
---|---|
Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to BMedScs and 120cp at 1000 level or above including BIOL1620
|
Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
Unit description |
Unit description
In the Bachelor of Medical Sciences Capstone and PACE unit, students will apply their knowledge and their experiential learnings over the course of the degree to delve into local and global health issues of current medical and health sciences significance. Interactive sessions with experts at the forefront of research topics currently dominating medical sciences will facilitate students to engage deeply with research seeking solutions to health issues through medical science innovations. In the PACE component students have an option to undertake an individual placement or to complete an on-campus group project solving problems for an industry partner.This unit involves active reflection on prior learning and translation to employability and workplace skills, and building linkages with professional communities and industries. Visit Employability Connect for important information and resources relating to this unit. Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Good Health and Well Being; Quality Education; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Unit completion
To pass this unit students need to:
Assessment Submission
Late Assessment Submission and penalties
A 1 hour grace period after submission deadline will be given. After this time the following deductions will be applied:
Special Consideration
Applies to assessment 1 (Future Health), Assessment 2 (Work ready final submission) and Assessment 3 (Partnering with Industry)
The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au/s/
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Future health - issues and solutions | 30% | No | 24/08/2025 |
Work ready reflection | 20% | No | 21/09/2025 |
Partnering with industry | 50% | No | 02/11/2025 |
Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 24/08/2025
Weighting: 30%
Students will identify a pressing health issue associated with the World Health Organisation threats for future health and determine alignment to relevant Sustainable Development Goals. Content on recent scientific discoveries, innovations, solutions or strategies for managing, treating, or controlling the health issue form part of the assessment. Submission is in the form of a poster where the issue, SDGs, and the up to date information are presented.
Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 21/09/2025
Weighting: 20%
Students will provide a written reflection on learnings aimed at developing and recognising individual work readiness gained through completion of employability modules and SGTA activities. The reflection also requires students to relate their work readiness relative to their career aspirations.
Assessment Type 1: Work-integrated task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 02/11/2025
Weighting: 50%
Students will provide a recorded video presentation about their PACE experience. The presentation will include detailing the partner organisation's function and significance for medical/health sciences, work integrated activities performed during PACE placement, deliverables/outcomes provided by the student for the partner, employability skills developed, recognition of how the organisation supports stakeholder needs in the health sector, and future career relevance of the experience. This assessment includes considerable reflection on experiential learning during the PACE activity and relatedness to learning experiences, skills and knowledge throughout study towards the Bachelor of Medical Sciences and supporting real world stakeholders in the health sector
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Learning and Teaching model
BIOL3661 is delivered in a flipped classroom mode where students are required to do pre-class tasks in preparation for activities in weekly SGTAs (weeks 1-7). Completing these tasks before weekly SGTAs will ensure that you get the best from the unit, and are in a position to participate and interact with students in SGTA activities.
CLASSES - begin in week 1
Seminars
BIOL3661 has one online seminar per week where guest speakers relating will cover topics relating to career progression and research themes.
Over 80% of the lecturers in this unit are external to Macquarie University and work at other institutes. These scientists, postdocs, students and professionals are giving up their time to present information to you and to assist you with the next stages of your career. Please endeavour to attend seminars and respect the time and contributions that the speakers are providing for you.
Small group teaching activities
Weeks 1-7 and 13
In the first seven weekly 2-hour classes (weeks 1-7) students undertake small group activities and problem-based learning to identify and develop key skills that will support their careers after completion of the Bachelor of Medical Sciences.
There are activities associated with the employability modules that need to be completed before attending class to ensure that you and other students get the best from time in class and the unit. The SGTAs in weeks 1-7 are integral to completing all assessments in BIOL3661 and will prepare you for your PACE activity and future work in health and medical sciences.
Weeks 8-12 - PACE group-based activity students only
Students complete their PACE activity on campus in partnership with an external organisation that have provided projects and clear deliverables -
PACE activities
The PACE component of BIOL3661 can be completed in two ways.
Methods of Communication
Health in classes
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
We value student feedback to be able to continually improve the way we offer our units. As such we encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page.
Date | Description |
---|---|
27/07/2025 | The standard University penalty for late assessments has been added to the general information section |
Unit information based on version 2025.05 of the Handbook