451-449 Professional and Business Studies

Upon completion of this subject students should have an understanding of the role of a geomatics engineering professional within society. This subject will comprise two components.

Part A: Part A covers the functions and responsibilities of the professional engineer and professional surveyor within society. This involves a series of lectures on: professional ethics, the role of the public, private and academic sectors within engineering, and particularly within geomatics, professional organisations within surveying and geomatics disciplines at national regional and global scales and career development and resume writing.

Part B: This part covers business management, with a focus on surveying and geomatics-related businesses. This includes the particular areas of: setting up a business, time and resource management, financial management, leadership, success and goal setting, strategic planning, marketing, network techniques for planning, quality management and occupational health and safety. This should enable students to gain a good understanding of what is involved in setting up and running a business, as well as managing resources including time and people, at any level within a company.

• ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large

• ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution

• ability to utilise a systems approach to design and operational performance

• ability to function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member

• understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development

• understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them

• expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, capacity to do so

• capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning

• intellectual curiosity and creativity, including understanding of the philosophical and methodological bases of research activity

• openness to new ideas and unconventional critiques of received wisdom

• profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of scholarship

• international awareness and openness to the world, based on understanding and appreciation of social and cultural diversity and respect for individual human rights and dignity

Part A: One joint written assignment of no more than 4000 words (25%). One joint oral presentation equivalent to 2000 words (10%). Five individual written class summaries of no more than one page (1% each - 5%). Individual written summary of oral presentations (2.5%).

Part B: One joint written assignment of no more than 4000 words (25%). One joint oral presentation equivalent to 2000 words (10%). Two individual written assignments of no more than 1000 words each (7.5% each - 15%). Five individual written class summaries of no more than one page (1% each - 5%). Individual written summary of the oral presentations (2.5%).