Overview

The capstone unit aims to provide a culminating experience of the degree, where students integrate knowledge from construction management, engineering, and sustainability to solve a real-world industry challenge. This project emphasises hands-on problem-solving, collaboration with industry and/or community, and professional communication, preparing students to transition seamlessly into roles such as project manager, site supervisor, or consultant.

Requisites

Prerequisites

200 credit points

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Plan and manage an innovative construction project using project management processes, industry-standard tools, and self-management skills to ensure efficient execution and successful delivery
  • Research and analyze complex construction challenges within given constraints by formulating research questions, evaluating current industry developments, and applying construction research methodologies to propose, assess, and justify innovative solutions
  • Exhibit effective teamwork and professional communication through collaborative project proposals, reports, documentation, and presentations tailored for diverse audiences, including clients, contractors, and regulatory bodies
  • Reflect on professional construction management practices and assess their impact on projects by considering safety regulations, ethical standards, legal requirements, social and cultural influences, sustainability factors, and industry codes of practice
  • Exhibit professionalism, ethical conduct, and accountability in all project-related activities, including teamwork, stakeholder engagement, and adherence to industry standards while upholding a professional image

Teaching methods

All applicable locations

Activity Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)

Supervisor Meetings

 1 12 weeks 12
Live Online Lecture 1 12 weeks 12
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 1 12 weeks 12
Unspecified Learning Activities (Independent Learning) 17 12 weeks 204
Total     240

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Individual Written Assignment 10-20 % 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Individual/Group Presentation 10-25 % 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Individual/Group Progress Report 50-70 % 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Individual/Group Research Plan 5-15 % 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Content

Learning will take place primarily through independent research, guided by supervisors from the University and industry if applied:

  • Face-to-face seminars covering contemporary construction management issues and online seminars providing an overview of research methods
  • Presentations
  • Industry speaker’s seminars.

The research component includes:

  • Defining the research problem
  • Reviewing the literature
  • Research methodologies
  • Ethics and plagiarism
  • Planning a research project
  • Communicating research outcomes

The contemporary issues in the construction management profession include:

  • Issues associated with professional construction management practice, including safety, ethical, legal, social, cultural and sustainability considerations, such as intellectual property, research ethics, etc.
  • Reflection and self-review practices
  • Professional development plan

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.