Students

AFIN8011 – Business and Global Environmental Change

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Grace Lepone
grace.lepone@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(Admission to MActPrac or MFin or MSusDev) or ACST6003 or AFIN6013 or ECON6049 or ECON8091
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of the sustainability challenges facing organisations, and to highlight business risks and opportunities that are emerging as a consequence of global environmental change. Furthermore, the unit is designed to enable students to challenge the status quo of "business-as-usual" and to search for innovative solutions to some of the pressing issues impacting organisations, including changes in ecological parameters through climate change, more frequent and/or severe extreme weather events and natural resource scarcity. The unit seeks to use frame-breaking approaches to problem solving and the development of organisational strategies.

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: Explain the range of challenges organisations are facing resulting from changing environmental conditions. 
  • ULO2: Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of policy development related to sustainability and climate change.
  • ULO3: Consider the rational and process for undertaking a greenhouse gas/carbon emission and energy audit. 
  • ULO4: Use a framework to help identify the innovation and response needs of an organisation. 
  • ULO5: Work productively in a group to prepare and present a research project. 

General Assessment Information

General Assessment Information

Late Submission Penalties

If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days. Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.

Example 1 (out of 100): If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.

Example 2 (out of 30): If you score 27/30 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.

Extensions

Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.

Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration.

Need help? Review the Special Consideration page for further details.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Professional practice: Business and environmental change research 50% No 03/11/2026 Individual Yes Open
Professional practice: Critical reflection 20% No 06/10/2026 Individual Yes Open
Professional practice: Applied business and environmental change 30% No Week 7 Group No Open

Professional practice: Business and environmental change research

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 03/11/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

The purpose of this assessment is for you to develop skills in researching an issue in business and global environmental change

You will apply frameworks and concepts discussed in the unit to produce a research report.

Skills in focus:

  • Communication skills 
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Discipline knowledge
  • Global, ethical, and environmental citizenship

Deliverable(s): Research report [max 3,500 words] Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the range of challenges organisations are facing resulting from changing environmental conditions. 
  • Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of policy development related to sustainability and climate change.
  • Consider the rational and process for undertaking a greenhouse gas/carbon emission and energy audit. 
  • Use a framework to help identify the innovation and response needs of an organisation. 

Professional practice: Critical reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 06/10/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

The purpose of this assessment is for you to critically reflect on your learning throughout the session.

You will reflect on both the content and application of the activities completed and knowledge gained throughout the session.

Skills in focus:

  • Communication skills 
  • Critical thinking
  • Global, ethical, and environmental citizenship
  • Work readiness

Deliverable(s): Reflection report [max 2,000 words] Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the range of challenges organisations are facing resulting from changing environmental conditions. 
  • Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of policy development related to sustainability and climate change.
  • Consider the rational and process for undertaking a greenhouse gas/carbon emission and energy audit. 
  • Use a framework to help identify the innovation and response needs of an organisation. 

Professional practice: Applied business and environmental change

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

The purpose of this assessment is for you to gain expertise in applications in business and global environmental change.

You will apply frameworks and concepts discussed in the unit to produce a presentation.

Skills in focus:

  • Communication and collaboration
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Global, ethical, and environmental citizenship
  • Work readiness

Deliverable(s): Presentation [max 20 minutes] Group assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the range of challenges organisations are facing resulting from changing environmental conditions. 
  • Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of policy development related to sustainability and climate change.
  • Consider the rational and process for undertaking a greenhouse gas/carbon emission and energy audit. 
  • Use a framework to help identify the innovation and response needs of an organisation. 
  • Work productively in a group to prepare and present a research project. 

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Weekly 2-hr lecture, and 1-hr workshop (workshop starting from week 2)

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/

Academic Success

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. 

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 https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

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

This unit has changed from 6 whole-day intensive block mode to weekly face to face lectures + workshops

Unit information based on version 2026.05 of the Handbook