Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Year Module
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, TPG3700-24-Y, as well as your group website.
Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, only available on myUnisa.
BARCODE
CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4
2 MODULE OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................. 5
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................5
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 5
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ........................................................................................... 5
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 6
4.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 6
4.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 6
5 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 6
5.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 6
5.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 7
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves).................................................................................................. 8
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 9
6.1 First-Year Experience Programme .............................................................................................. 10
7 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 10
8 HOW TO STUDY ONLINE .......................................................................................................... 11
8.1 What does it mean to study fully online? ..................................................................................... 11
9 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 11
9.1 Assessment criteria..................................................................................................................... 11
9.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 12
9.3 Assessment due dates ................................................................................................................ 13
9.4 Submission of assessments........................................................................................................ 13
9.4.1 Types of assignments and descriptions ........................................................................................ 14
9.5 The assessments ........................................................................................................................ 15
9.6 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 16
9.7 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 16
9.7.1 Invigilation/proctoring .................................................................................................................. 16
10 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ........................................................................................................ 17
10.1 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................... 17
10.2 Cheating ..................................................................................................................................... 17
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TPG3700/101/0/2024
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1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student
Teaching and learning in a CODeL context involve multiple modes of delivery ranging from
blended learning to fully online. As a default position, all post graduate programmes are
offered fully online with no printed study materials, while undergraduate programmes are
offered in a blended mode of delivery where printed study materials are augmented with
online teaching and learning via the learner management system – myUnisa. In some
instances, undergraduate programmes are offered fully online as well.
Furthermore, our programmes are aligned with the vision, mission, and values of the
University. Unisa's commitment to serve humanity and shape futures combined with a clear
appreciation of our location on the African continent, Unisa's graduates have distinctive
graduate qualities which include:
• independent, resilient, responsible, and caring citizens who are able to fulfil and
serve in multiple roles in their immediate and future local, national and global
communities
• having a critical understanding of their location on the African continent with its
histories, challenges and potential in relation to globally diverse contexts
• the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the credibility and usefulness of
information and data from multiple sources in a globalised world with its ever-
increasing information and data flows and competing worldviews
• an awareness of their own learning and developmental needs and future potential
TPG3700 is a fully online module (all information is available via the internet), we use
myUnisa as our virtual campus except for the practical component. This is an online system
that is used to administer, document, and deliver educational material to you and support
engagement with you. Look out for information from your lecturer as well as other Unisa
platforms to determine how to access the virtual myUnisa module site. Information on the
tools that will be available to engage with the lecturer and fellow students to support your
learning will also be communicated via various platforms.
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Because this is a fully online module, you will need to use myUnisa to study and complete the
learning activities for this module. Visit the website for TPG3700 on myUnisa frequently. The
website for your module is TPG3700-24-Y.
2 MODULE OVERVIEW
2.1 Purpose
TPG3700 is basically two components including theory element and a design project. The
theory component focuses on traffic measurements and signal timing, pavement structure,
pavement design, pavement maintenance, establishment of travel lane configuration, alignment
location, dimensions related to the highway cross-section, and visible features of a highway or
street, and pavement structure and design. The main purpose of the theory component is to
equip students with the necessary theoretical background to solve problems relating to road
design. The project component requires students to carry out road design works and/or critically
review designs provided by others. Students who have completed this module successfully will
be able to design the pre-timed signalised intersections, road geometry and the pavement
structure.
2.2 Outcomes
• Specific outcome 3: Explain Highway Travel Characteristics: Driver, Vehicle and Traffic.
• Specific outcome 4: Identify and calculate highway geometric elements, including sight
distances, horizontal and vertical alignments, cross section elements, and Intersections.
• Specific outcome 5: Understand pavement structure & design the pavement layers.
• Specific outcome 6: Determine the road surface and subsurface drainage requirements.
• Specific outcome 7: Identify and formulate road design problems and generate designs
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter, in terms of which the university has placed
curriculum transformation high on the teaching and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation
includes student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment
practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies
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and philosophies. All of these will be phased in at both programme and module levels, and as a
result of this you will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented
by Unisa, together with the way in which the content is conceptualised in your modules. We
encourage you to embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way
within the framework of transformation.
E-mail: hussiwam@unisa.ac.za
4.2 Department
Private Bag x 6
Florida, 1710
4.3 University
Contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.
5 RESOURCES
5.1 Prescribed book(s)
None
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Draft TRH4: Structural Design of Flexible Pavements for Interurban and Rural Roads
Guidelines for the Geometric Design of Urban Arterial Roads – UTG1, Department of Transport,
RSA. https://www.nra.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=244 [Accessed on 15/08/2023]
Recommended books can be requested online, via the Library catalogue. In addition, provision
has been made that UNISA students can get free access to “Knovel®” data base. Go to the
website at https://app.knovel.com/web/, use your UNISA e-mail address (For example: student
no@mylife.unisa.ac.za) to register and login. Students are encouraged to access Open
Electronic Resources (OERs) that are available from various platforms. The following books are
available:
Geometric Design Projects for Highways - An Introduction (2nd Edition) Author: Schoon, J.G.
(Available on Knovel®)
The Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Road Pavements (5th Edition) Author:
O'Flaherty, Coleman; Hughes, David (Available on Knovel®)
Highway Drainage Guidelines (4th Edition) Author: American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
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5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)
E-reserves can be downloaded from the library webpage. Find e-reserves. More information is
available at: http://oasis.unisa.ac.za/search/r
The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources. The library has
created numerous library guides, available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za
Recommended guides:
• For research support and services such as the Personal Librarian service and the
Information Search Librarian's Literature
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This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through
Unisa.
If you need assistance with regard to the myModules system, you are welcome to use the
following contact details:
You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to
access module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessment
and how to participate in forum activities via the following link:
https://dtls-qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130
Registered Unisa students get a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices
and updates are sent exclusively to this account. Please note that it can take up to 24 hours
for your account to be activated after you have claimed it. Please do this immediately after
registering at Unisa, by following this link: myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za
Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official
correspondence with the university and will remain the official primary e-mail address on
record at Unisa. You remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.
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6.1 First-Year Experience Programme
Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful. This is
also true in the case of students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open
distance and e-learning institution, and it is very different from face-to-face/contact institutions. It
is a mega university, and all our programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully
online learning. It is for this reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students
additional/extended support to help them seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning
journey with little difficulty and few barriers. We therefore offer a specialised student support
programme to students enrolling at Unisa for the first time – this is Unisa’s First-Year
Experience (FYE) Programme, designed to provide you with prompt and helpful information
about services that the institution offers and how you can access information. The following FYE
services are currently offered:
Email Support
FYE Website
fye@unisa.ac.za
www.unisa.ac.za/FYE
FYE1500
Post
myUnisa; Study
Registration
Referrals to Skills; Academic &
Orientation Digital Literacies;
other support
services i.e. etc
Counselling;
Reading & Writing
workshops
To ensure that you do not miss out on important academic and support communication
from the SRU, please check your myLife inbox regularly.
7 STUDY PLAN
To be communicated in due course.
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You will receive study materials, assessment questions, and more information relating to this
module online on Unisa portal during the year. Students will complete the learning activities
(e.g., submit assessment scripts) and receive feedback on the same platform.
9 ASSESSMENT
9.1 Assessment criteria
Assessments are part of the learning material for this module. As you do the assignment, study
the reading texts, consult other resources, discuss the work with fellow students or do research,
you are actively engaged in learning. The following assessment methods are used to address
the seven (7) specific outcomes of TPG3700:
Graduate Attributes
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TPG3700 covers ECSA Graduate Attribute five (GA5). GA5 relates to engineering methods,
skills, and tools, including information technology. Students taking this module are required to
demonstrate competence in terms of appropriate use of engineering methods, skills, and tools,
including those based on information technology. More details regarding GA5 can be found on
ECSA website under the following weblink:
https://www.ecsa.co.za/ECSADocuments/Shared%20Documents/E-05-
PT%20Qualification%20Standard%20for%20Advanced%20Diploma%20in%20Engineering%20
NQF%20-%20Level%207.pdf
GA5 is assessed using a design project focusing on software-aided alignment. There will be a
provision for second assessment opportunity for those who cannot achieve the required GA5
competency in the first assessment. The second opportunity will be marked to the maximum of
60 % (i.e., capped to a mark of 60 out of 100). Failure to achieve the requirements of GA5 leads
to failure of the module.
School of Engineering is following a continuous assessment system. So, you will be able to
accumulate marks throughout the year. TPG700 students are required to achieve at least a final
mark (module mark) of 50% and to show competence in relation to GA5-dedicated assessment.
The formative assessment for this module will be in the form of timed online tests and written
submissions via myUnisa. The major online tests will be 2 hours long with an additional 15
minutes to download the test and 30 minutes to upload the answer script. There will be a total of
two-timed online tests plus one additional retest in the event you do not meet the passing mark.
There will also be one written assignment and one project assessment plus one additional
resubmission in the case you do not meet the GA5 requirements.
Your final mark will be calculated from a total of four (4) assessments. All 4 assessments
are compulsory.
Please note:
• To complete this module, you will be required to submit four (4) assessments.
• All information on when and where to submit your assessments will be made available to
you via the myUnisa site for your module. The actual assessments are available on the
same platform.
• To pass this module, you are required to pass at least one timed online test with a
subminimum of 50%, show GA5 competency (assessment 2 and/or assessment 6), and
achieve a minimum average final mark of 50%, calculated as per weightings assigned to
each assessment.
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Contribution to
Assessment no. Assessments type
final mark
1 Written assignment 10%
2 Design project – GA5 30%
3 Major test 1 (online) 30%
4 Major test 2 (online) 30%
5 Major test 3 (Retest) -
6 Design project (2nd opportunity) – GA5 Capped to 60%
Total assessment contribution 100%
• Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the myUnisa landing page for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.
• Please start working on your assessments as soon as you register for the module.
• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates
for the submission of the assessments.
• The myUnisa virtual campus will offer students access to the myModules site, where
learning material will be available online and where assessments should be completed.
This is an online system that is used to administer, document, and deliver educational
material to students and support engagement between academics and students.
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• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will
see a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below the welcome message you will
see the assessment shells for the assessments that you need to complete. Some
assessments may be multiple choice, some tests, others written assessments, some
forum discussions, and so on. All assessments must be completed on the assessment
shells available on the respective module platforms.
• To complete assessments, please log on to the module site where you need to complete
the assessment. Click on the relevant assessment shell (Assessment 1, Assessment 2,
etc.). There will be a date on which the assessment will open for you. When the
assessment is open, access the assessment online and complete it within the time
available to you. Assessment questions are not included in this tutorial letter (Tutorial
Letter 101) and are only made available online. You must therefore access the
assessment online and complete it online where the assessment has been created.
• It is not advisable to use a cell phone to complete the assessment. Please use a desktop
computer, tablet or laptop when completing the assessment. Students who use a cell
phone find it difficult to navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and
often struggle to navigate between questions and successfully complete
theassessments. In addition, cell phones are more vulnerable to dropped internet
connections than other devices. If at all possible, please do not use a cell phone for
this assessment type.
• For written assessments, please note the due date by which the assessment must be
submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell on
myModules. You will then be able to upload your written assessment on the myModules
site of the modules that you are registered for. Before you finalise the upload, double
check that you have selected the correct file for upload. Remember, no marks can be
allocated for incorrectly submitted assessments.
• Elective assignments
- If not submitted, the student gets no mark for this item.
- The best of the required submissions will count.
• Mandatory assignments
• Compulsory assignments
- If not submitted, the result on the student’s academic record will be absent.
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I. Elective assignments
c. for the student to select which assignment to submit, the elective assignments must
be grouped together. For such an elective group, relevant information must be
provided to the student, such as how many of the assignments must be submitted
and how many of the assignment marks should be combined into the year mark.
d. The selection criteria define how marks received for assignments in an elective group
are to be combined into the year mark. Three different criteria may be used for
calculating the year mark:
• If the student submits fewer than the required number of assignments per group or
no assignment in a group, a mark of 0% will be used.
b. If a student fails to submit a mandatory assignment, no mark is awarded and the year
mark is calculated accordingly. The student will therefore forfeit the marks attached to
this assignment when the final mark for the module is calculated.
a. when not submitted, the student will fail a Continuous Assessment module but will
be shown as absent from the examination in the case of other modules.
As indicated in section 9.2, you need to complete four (4) assessments for this module.
There are no assignments included in this tutorial letter. Assignments and due dates will be
made available to you on myModules for this module. We envisage that the due dates will be
available to you upon registration.
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• Keep a clear copy of the assignment for your own reference. This is important, as
assignments do get lost.
• You must obtain a minimum of 50% on one major test. However, all four (4) assessments
are compulsory to pass the module.
• Student who fails any of the major tests will have a one opportunity to re-do the
tests.
• Because this is an online module, the assignments are not provided in this tutorial letter.
Instead, they will be posted online as they become due, and you will see them when you
go online.
• All assessments must be submitted in PDF format only and the document must be
saved with your student number and the module code (e.g., 72111985_TPG3700).
None
Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant) and for communication from the university.
9.7.1 Invigilation/proctoring
Since 2020 Unisa conducts all its assessments online. Given stringent requirements from
professional bodies and increased solicitations of Unisa’s students by third parties to unlawfully
assist them with the completion of assignments and examinations, the University is obliged to
assure its assessment integrity through the utilisation of various proctoring tools: Turnitin,
Moodle Proctoring, the Invigilator App and IRIS. These tools will authenticate the student’s
identity and flag suspicious behaviour to assure credibility of students’ responses during
assessments. The description below is for your benefit as you may encounter any or all of these
in your registered modules:
Turnitin is a plagiarism software that facilitates checks for originality in students’ submissions
against internal and external sources. Turnitin assists in identifying academic fraud and ghost
writing. Students are expected to submit typed responses for utilisation of the Turnitin software.
The Moodle Proctoring tool is a facial recognition software that authenticates students’ identity
during their Quiz assessments. This tool requires access to a student’s mobile or laptop
camera. Students must ensure their camera is activated in their browser settings prior to their
assessments.
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requires students to download the app from their Play Store (Google, Huawei and Apple) on
their mobile devices (camera enabled) prior to their assessment.
IRIS Invigilation software verifies the identity of a student during assessment and provides for
both manual and automated facial verification. It has the ability to record and review a student’s
assessment session. It flags suspicious behaviour by the students for review by an academic
administrator. IRIS software requires installation on students’ laptop devices that are enabled
with a webcam.
Students who are identified and flagged for suspicious dishonest behaviour arising from the
invigilation and proctoring reports are referred to the disciplinary office for formal proceeding.
Please note:
Students must refer to their module assessment information on their myModule sites to
determine which proctoring or invigilation tool will be utilised for their formative and summative
assessments.
10 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
10.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:
• Copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
• Not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information.
• Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.
10.2 Cheating
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules
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11 STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES
The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD,
arcswid@unisa.ac.za) provides an opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning
students with disabilities.
If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact Dr Walied Elsaigh, hussiwam@unisa.ac.za, to discuss
the assistance that you need.
How GA5 is assessed? GA5 is assessed in a design project. A special rubric is used and will be
communicated to students along with the project letter.
What happen if I am found GA5 incompetent? you will be given a second opportunity (i.e.,
resubmission). Students who do not meet the minimum required competencies in both the first
submission and the resubmission will have to re-register the module for the next future year,
even if ≥ 50% final mark is achieved.
13 SOURCES CONSULTED
UNISA TL101_0_2004_FullyOnline_template.
14 IN CLOSING
Do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail if you are experiencing problems with the content of this
tutorial letter or with any academic aspect of the module. We wish you a fascinating and
satisfying journey through the learning material and trust that you will complete the module
successfully. Enjoy the journey!
15 ADDENDUM
None
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For the Advanced Diploma qualifications, the Sydney Accord rules and regulations are
applicable
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• Hong Kong - (The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, 2001)
Assurance of substantial equivalence through this agreement may enhance mutual exemption
between jurisdictions by leading to opportunities to streamline processes and procedures for the
recognition of competent individuals in other jurisdictions.
The equivalency of the engineering programmes was possible through the introduction of
Graduate Attributes. Graduate Attributes are assessable outcomes, developed by the
signatories that give confidence that the educational objectives of programmes are being
achieved ensuring the quality of the programme.
As the Graduate Attributes are “assessable outcomes”, each module part of the qualification,
has several Graduate Attributes attached to them and must be assessed in a measurable way,
namely through assignment or laboratory reports or projects or exams. Some Graduate
Attributes may be assessed via several measurable ways.
Since 2022 the Graduate Attributes (GAs) are assessed in design, practical, project and
modules and the total number of 11 Graduate Attributes will be assessed over the whole
qualification.
• the student has obtained the minimum of credits distributed in the knowledge areas
defined in the E – 05 – PT document,
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General Range Statement: The competencies defined in the eleven graduate attributes may be
demonstrated in a university-based, simulated workplace context. Competencies stated
generically may be assessed in various engineering disciplinary or cross-disciplinary contexts.
a) require coherent and detailed engineering knowledge underpinning the technology area; and
one or more of the characteristics
i) are ill-posed, under- or over specified, or requiring identification and interpretation into the
technology area.
iii) belong to families of problems which are solved in well-accepted but innovative ways
ii) may be partially outside standards and codes; must provide justification to operate outside.
iii) require information from practice area and source interfacing with the practice area that is
incomplete.
iv) involves a variety of issues which may impose conflicting needs and constraints; technical,
engineering and interested or affected parties
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Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural sciences, engineering fundamentals and an
engineering speciality to solve broadly-defined engineering problems.
• A knowledge of mathematics using formalism and oriented toward engineering analysis and
modelling; fundamental knowledge of natural science: both as relevant to a discipline or
recognised practice area.
• The use of mathematics, natural sciences and engineering sciences, supported by established
models, to aid solving broadly-defined engineering problems.
Range Statement: Mathematics, natural science and engineering sciences are applied in
formal analysis and modelling of engineering situations, and for reasoning about and
conceptualizing engineering problems.
Range Statement: Design problems used in exit-level assessment must conform to the
definition of a broadly-defined engineering problem.
Range Statement: The balance of investigation and experiment should be appropriate to the
discipline. Research methodology is to be applied in research or an investigation where the
student engages with selected knowledge in the research literature of the discipline.
Note: An investigation differs from a design in that the objective is to produce knowledge and
understanding of a phenomenon and a recommended course of action rather than specifying
how an artifact could be produced.
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Demonstrate competence to use appropriate engineering methods, skills and tools, including
those based on information technology.
Range Statement: A range of methods, skills and tools appropriate to the disciplinary
designation of the program including:
• Computers and networks and information infrastructures for accessing, processing, managing,
and storing information to enhance personal productivity and teamwork
context.
i) Audiences range from engineering peers, management and lay persons, using appropriate
academic or professional discourse.
ii) Written reports range from short (300-1000 words plus tables diagrams) to long (10 000 to 15
000 words plus tables, diagrams and appendices), covering material at exit-level.
iii) Methods of providing information include the conventional methods of the discipline, for
example engineering drawings, as well as subject- specific methods
Demonstrate critical awareness of the sustainability and impact of engineering activity on the
social, industrial and physical environment.
Range Statement: The combination of social, workplace (industrial) and physical environmental
factors must be appropriate to the discipline or other designation of the qualification.
Comprehension of the role of engineering in society and identified issues in engineering
practice in the discipline: health, safety and environmental protection; risk assessment and
management and the impacts of engineering activity: economic, social, cultural, environmental
and sustainability.
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Range Statement: Multidisciplinary tasks require co-operation across at least one disciplinary
boundary. Co-operating disciplines may be engineering disciplines with different fundamental
bases other than that of the programme or may be outside engineering.
Demonstrate critical awareness of the need to act professionally and ethically and to exercise
judgment and take responsibility within own limits of competence.
Range Statement: Evidence includes case studies typical of engineering practice situations in
which the graduate is likely to participate. Ethics and the professional responsibility of an
engineer and the contextual knowledge specified in the range statement of Graduate Attribute 7
is generally applicable here.
References
Unisa 2024
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