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Sustainable and Life Cycle Engineering (MCEN90060)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 2
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Humankind faces global challenges related to economy, ecology and socio-policy, e.g. population growth, climate change, and unequal development. Unsustainable consumption and production patterns have resulted in substantial economic and social costs and may endanger life on our planet. Engineers and scientists have developed methods and tools to evaluate and implement technological and societal processes to tackle the challenges of sustainability. Therefore, this subject aims to develop a holistic view of engineering the entire life cycle of a product or service from raw material extraction, production, usage to disposal.

This subject consists of four main modules 1) sustainable development and life cycle thinking; 2) life cycle analysis tools, 3) eco-design and cleaner production, and 4) closed-loop economy. This subject will engage students with the state-of-the-art research development and leading industrial practices in topics such as product life cycle management, life cycle assessment, sustainable manufacturing, circular economy etc. Guest speakers are also invited to provide broader examples from a global perspective.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • ILO. Analyse triple bottom line of sustainability in an engineering context;
  • ILO2. Evaluate the whole life cycle of a product or service by applying life cycle analysis tools;
  • ILO3. Apply eco-design methods to reduce the environmental impact of a product;
  • ILO4. Apply methods and technologies to promote cleaner production;
  • ILO5. Analyse end-of-life strategies to promote circular economy.

Generic skills

  • An understanding of social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities and the need to employ principles of sustainable development;
  • The ability to utilise a systems approach to complex problems and to design for operational performance;
  • The ability to comprehend complex concepts and effectively communicate this understanding;
  • Capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work;
  • The ability to function effectively as an individual and in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams;
  • Capacity for lifelong learning and professional development.

Last updated: 24 January 2023

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Students must meet one of the following prerequisite options:

Option 1

Admission into the MC-INDENG Master of Industrial Engineering

AND

Completion of a minimum of 100 credit points of study.

Option 2

Admission into or selection of one of the following:

  • MC-MECHENG Master of Mechanical Engineering
  • MC-MTRNENG Master of Mechatronics Engineering
  • Mechanical specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENG Master of Engineering
  • Mechanical with Business specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENG Master of Engineering
  • Mechanical with Aerospace specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENG Master of Engineering
  • Mechatronics specialisation (formal) in the MC-ENG Master of Engineering

AND

Completion of a minimum of 150 credit points of study.

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 24 January 2023

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Mid semester test. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1 and 2 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 1 hours
From Week 6 to Week 720%

Group written report 1. Max. 2500 words for agroup of 4. ILO 2 is addressed in this assessment.

  • 2500 words
From Week 7 to Week 920%

Group written report 2. Max. 2500 words for a group of 4. ILO 3 is addressed in this assessment.

  • 2500 words
From Week 9 to Week 1220%

Final written exam. ILOs 3-5 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 2 hours
During the examination period40%

Last updated: 24 January 2023

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    Principal coordinatorWen Li
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours24 hours of lectures and 24 hours of workshops/tutorials
    Total time commitment200 hours
    Teaching period24 July 2023 to 22 October 2023
    Last self-enrol date 4 August 2023
    Census date31 August 2023
    Last date to withdraw without fail22 September 2023
    Assessment period ends17 November 2023

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
    - Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
    - Completion rate. Students who started their course from 2022 and are in a CSP or receiving a HELP Loan (eg FEE-HELP) must meet the completion rate to continue to receive Commonwealth Support for that course.

Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement, and as a fail toward the completion rate, unless there are approved ‘special circumstances’.

Additional delivery details

This subject will be available for enrolment Semester 2, 2022.

Last updated: 24 January 2023

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.

  • Subject notes

    This subject will be offered Semester 1 2022

  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    Specialisation (formal)Mechanical with Aerospace
    Specialisation (formal)Mechanical with Business
    Specialisation (formal)Mechatronics
    Specialisation (formal)Mechanical
  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 24 January 2023