Students

ENVS3462 – Environmental Management

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and Lecturer
Professor Kirstie Fryirs
kirstie.fryirs@mq.edu.au
Lecturer
Dr Kathryn Korbel
kathryn.korbel@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ENVS2467
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides an advanced understanding of the interdisciplinary links between environmental research, management strategies and policy frameworks that are fundamental to working as a practitioner in environmental management. We explore significant issues and challenges associated with managing dynamic human-nature systems from the global to the local-scale. The unit includes field visits to sites in the Sydney region. Students will develop the skills required to work in a diversity of roles in environmental management including, environmental assessment and monitoring, project management and governance, grant writing, professional literacy and geoethics. Workshops and practical activities are designed to enhance graduate capabilities and employability in the environmental management sector.

Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Sustainable Cities and Communities; Climate Action; Life on Land

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply knowledge of environmental management models to evaluate the principal threats and impacts of anthropogenic disturbance to environmental systems
  • ULO2: Source, critically analyse and synthesise different forms of information relating to environmental management, and apply this to develop adaptive management strategies that are appropriate for different environmental issues.
  • ULO3: Reflect on personal and professional values in the context of sustainability, institutional ethics, conflicts of interest and other matters relating to environmental governance. 
  • ULO4: Analyse and communicate complex issues in environmental management to a diverse range of stakeholders.

General Assessment Information

See the ENVS3462 iLearn site for details on each Assessment Task. 

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must:

  • Achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50 %.

To do this, you are required to attend all of the scheduled classes, including the field trip.

Attendance and participation

All of the workshops are delivered face to face and will NOT be recorded. We will not be revisiting material so it is important you attend class and stay up-to-date with the conent from week to week. Some of the weeks are scaffolded, meaning work done in one week will be built on in subsequent weeks and generates knowledge towards the major assessment tasks.

We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

Assessment Criteria

Assessment at Macquarie University is standards-based, as outlined in the Assessment Policy. This means that your work will be assessed against clear criteria, and these criteria (e.g. in a rubric) will be made available when the assessment tasks are released to you on iLearn.

Submission of Assessments

All Assessments tasks must be submitted online through Turnitin unless otherwise indicated. Links for the submission of each assessment will be provided on iLearn. Please do not submit your assessments via email or in hard copy.

Marking of Assessments

Written assessments will be marked through Turnitin with marks and feedback provided through GradeMark. All assessment grades will be available in Gradebook on iLearn. 

We aim to return your assessment grades and feedback within three weeks of the assessment due date and before the next assessment is due. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marks and feedback are available for viewing.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern.  

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration.  

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted:  

  • Assessment 1 - Geoethics Scenario (quiz and written statement) – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies  
  • Assessment 2 - Grant Application (report)  – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
  • Assessment 3 - Review of Environmental Factors (report) – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 
  • Assessment 4 - Personal Capability Profile (video) - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

Special Consideration

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Geoethics quiz and ethics statement 15% No 16/03/2025
Grant application 40% No 13/04/2025
Review of Environmental Factors 40% No 01/06/2025
Personal capabilities video 5% No 08/06/2025

Geoethics quiz and ethics statement

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 16/03/2025
Weighting: 15%

 

This assessment task requires you to demonstrate an understanding of integrity and ethics in environmental management, and to reflect on how you meet the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge of environmental management models to evaluate the principal threats and impacts of anthropogenic disturbance to environmental systems
  • Reflect on personal and professional values in the context of sustainability, institutional ethics, conflicts of interest and other matters relating to environmental governance. 

Grant application

Assessment Type 1: Professional writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 13/04/2025
Weighting: 40%

 

This assessment task requires you to write an Expression of Interest for an Environmental Trust Grant focusing on an environmental management issue identified at a field site.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge of environmental management models to evaluate the principal threats and impacts of anthropogenic disturbance to environmental systems
  • Source, critically analyse and synthesise different forms of information relating to environmental management, and apply this to develop adaptive management strategies that are appropriate for different environmental issues.
  • Reflect on personal and professional values in the context of sustainability, institutional ethics, conflicts of interest and other matters relating to environmental governance. 
  • Analyse and communicate complex issues in environmental management to a diverse range of stakeholders.

Review of Environmental Factors

Assessment Type 1: Work-integrated task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 01/06/2025
Weighting: 40%

 

In this assessment, you will undertake a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for a proposed development using the NSW Government REF workflow and reporting structure.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge of environmental management models to evaluate the principal threats and impacts of anthropogenic disturbance to environmental systems
  • Source, critically analyse and synthesise different forms of information relating to environmental management, and apply this to develop adaptive management strategies that are appropriate for different environmental issues.
  • Analyse and communicate complex issues in environmental management to a diverse range of stakeholders.

Personal capabilities video

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: 08/06/2025
Weighting: 5%

 

For this assessment, you will evaluate your capabilities and job readiness to work as a practitioner in environmental management using the NSW Capability Framework.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Reflect on personal and professional values in the context of sustainability, institutional ethics, conflicts of interest and other matters relating to environmental governance. 

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classes start, in-person, in Week 1

The workshops for this unit will commence in Week 1.

Methods of Communication

We will communicate with you via your university email or through announcements posted on iLearn.

Students should make use of iLearn to access learning and teaching materials, submit assessments, stay in touch with the unit, contact lecturers, and discuss issues and concepts with others in the class.

For any general questions about the unit, please post these in the Discussion Forum. For private matters, please send a Private message to the Unit Contact. The links for these are in the Communications folder on the ENVS3462 iLearn page. 

Class Schedule

Students should use Class Finder to see when and where classes are being held:

This year, the ENVS3462 workshops have been scheduled for 1 pm to 5pm on Wednesdays in Building 01 Central Courtyard (01CC), room 201. There is also a field trip to South Creek in Week 4 during the normal workshop time which is compulsory. A detailed schedule with the weekly topics and assessment due dates will be provided on the ENVS3462 iLearn site. Check iLearn regularly for any class schedule updates.

Learning activities

This unit is comprised of 11 weeks of ~ 4 hr workshops, including the field trip to South Creek. The format of the workshops varies and includes mini lectures, practical hands-on activities, small-group problem solving exercises and a graduate panel in Week 1. It is essential that you attend each week as the workshops are not recorded and there are no repeats.

There are two weeks when there are no classes - Week 7 and Week 12. This time is set aside so you can work on Assessments 2 and 3 since each is worth a substantial proportion of the unit grade.

The Week 4 workshop is a field trip to South Creek at St Marys. You will need to make your own way there by either driving or catching the train (the closest station is St Marys, then it's a short walk to the site). Further details on the field trip (including meting time and location) will be provided through iLearn closer to the date. 

In addition to the workshops, you are also required to spend time doing your own independent reading and research with most of this time going towards completing the assessments. As a guide, you should aim to spend approximately 100 hours of your own time on the unit over the semester, in addition to the workshops and field trip. This requires good planning on your part to ensure that you meet the assessment due dates.

Technologies Used and Required

You will need to bring a computer to the workshops each week. We will use basic programs such as Word and Excel. You will also need to access the workshop materials from iLearn, as well as download data and other information from the web for use in the workshops and for the assessments. Electronic submission of the assessment tasks is through iLearn using the Turnitin and Assignment links. Please ensure your MFA is working before attending class.

Field Work, Health and Safety

To minimise the risk of WHS accidents in the field, you must wear appropriate clothing and footwear on the field trip. You will also need to bring adequate water and food.

Prior to the field trip, you will need to sign up to Field Friendly (via iLearn) so that you are covered by the university insurance during the trip. This sign-up is compulsory and if you haven't signed up by the closing date, you will not be permitted to attend.

Background Reading

There is no textbook for this unit. Instead, relevant reading material includes government reports, legislation, journal articles etc, which are all accessible via the library and the web. We strongly encourage you to read widely in the field of Environmental Management.

Policies and Procedures

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.

Student Code of Conduct

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

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

Academic Integrity

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.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre 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. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

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.

This year we have done a substantial revamp of the unit to make it more focused on working in Environmental Management. We have revised the weekly content and assessments, and changed from running separate lectures and pracs to ~4 hr, in-person, workshops each week. We also have two very experienced lecturers who have worked in, and with industry, for many years. You will also meet graduates working in industry in Week 1. This teaching team has been gathered to provide you with industry-relevant training and experiences to prepare you to enter the workforce and a career in Environmental Management.

Unit information based on version 2025.04 of the Handbook