Inherent requirements for Bachelor of Engineering
To support potential and current students' decision-making, a series of inherent requirement statements has been developed for engineering programs. These inherent requirements statements specify the course requirements of the engineering programs for student admission and progression.
The inherent requirements statements are clustered under eight domains consisting of ethical behaviour, behavioural stability, legal, communication, cognition, sensory abilities, strength and mobility and sustainable performance. Some of the activities that you will be required to undertake whilst participating in this course are time sensitive, where the capacity to undertake certain activities within specified time limits is required to reduce or avoid risks to an individual's safety and wellbeing. The safety and wellbeing of yourself and others is always of paramount importance.
As an Engineers Australia accreditation requirement, students are required to complete 12 weeks industrial experience before graduation. Successfully completing the program enables you to apply for graduate membership of Engineers Australia.
The inherent requirements statements outlined below provide a guide for students and staff when deciding whether you are able to meet these requirements and the type of reasonable adjustments that could potentially be put in place to assist students to meet the inherent requirements without compromising the academic integrity of the program.
How to read the inherent requirements statements:
If you are intending to enrol in an engineering program you should review these inherent requirement statements and carefully consider whether you can meet these requirements. If you think you may experience challenges for any reason, including a disability or chronic health condition, you should discuss your concerns with the AccessAbility Service. These staff can work collaboratively with you to determine whether reasonable adjustments can be made to assist you to meet the inherent requirements. Where it is determined that a student cannot meet the inherent requirements of a program even with reasonable adjustments, the University staff can provide guidance regarding other study options.
Each inherent requirement is made up of the following five levels:
- Level 1 - introduction to the inherent requirement
- Level 2 - description of what the inherent requirement is
- Level 3 - explanation of why this is an inherent requirement of the program
- Level 4 - the nature of any adjustments that may be made to allow you to meet the inherent requirement
- Level 5 - examples of things you must be able to do to show you've met the inherent requirement
There are eight domains of inherent requirements for engineering programs. Some domains have a number of sub-domains.
- Ethical Behaviour
- Behavioural Stability
- Legal
- Communication
- Knowledge and Cognition
- Sensory Ability
- Strength and Mobility
- Sustainable Performance
Inherent Requirement statements:
1. Ethical Behaviour
Introduction
Engineering is a profession governed by codes, guidelines and policies where engineering students are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts.
Description
Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in ethical behaviour in practice.
Justification
Compliance with the codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people they engage with. This ensures the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the individual is not placed at risk.
Adjustments
Must not compromise codes and standards or result in unethical behaviour.
Exemplars
Complying with UON Policies including the Student Conduct Rule.
Demonstrating appropriate behaviour in lectures, tutorials, laboratories and in group settings.
2. Behavioural Stability
Introduction
Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in academic and industrial experience settings..
Description
Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in diverse and changing academic and industrial experience settings.
Justification
Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Engineering students will be exposed to demanding situations and community responsibilities and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally.
Adjustments
Must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and industrial experience settings.
Exemplars
Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback.
Managing own emotional state & behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals or teams in industrial experience settings.
3. Legal
Introduction
Engineering practice is mandated by specific legislation to enable the safe delivery of projects and services.
Description
Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice.
Justification
Knowledge, understanding, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary pre-requisites to engineering practice in order to reduce the risk of harm, to self, the environment and others.
Compliance with these professional regulations and the Australian Law ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.
Adjustments
Must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements.
Exemplars
Responding to the requirements for registration with Engineers Australia.
Complying with relevant codes of practice for design, construction and maintenance of engineering systems.
4a. Communication (verbal)
Introduction
Effective and efficient verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to enable the safe delivery of projects and services.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner.
- The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation.
- Timely and clear feedback and reporting.
Justification
Adequate communication with engineers and team members is necessary for the safe execution of projects and the delivery of services.
Effective communication is necessary for building successful teams and professional relationships.
Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to professional service delivery.
Adjustments
For impaired verbal communication must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues.
Exemplars
Participating in safety briefs in the laboratory and tutorial settings as well as site visits.
Responding appropriately to a request for assistance in the industrial experience setting.
4b. Communication (non-verbal)
Introduction
Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to the successful execution of various engineering tasks and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest and non-judgmental.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues.
- Displays consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours.
- Sensitivity to individual differences.
Justification
The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building a rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and industrial experience relationships.
Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and industrial experience relationships.
Being sensitive to individual differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships.
The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for safe and successful execution of various engineering tasks.
Adjustments
Must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.
Exemplars
Recognising and responding appropriately in the classroom, laboratory and on-site visits.
Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in an industrial experience environment.
4c. Communication (Written)
Introduction
Effective written communication is a fundamental responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.
Description
Student demonstrates capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
Justification
Construction of written text based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice.
Accurate written communication, including record keeping, is vital to provide consistent and professional projects and service delivery.
Adjustments
Must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, accessibility, transferability and portability to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and industrial experience settings.
Exemplars
Constructing an assignment to academic standards.
Constructing an engineering report in a timely manner that meets professional standards.
5a. Knowledge and cognition skills
Introduction
Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and appropriate engineering services.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- The capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information.
- The ability to process information relevant to practice.
- The ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice.
Justification
Safe and effective delivery of project and services is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.
Adjustments
Must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.
Exemplars
Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
Appropriately applying knowledge of policy and procedures in industrial experience settings.
5b. Literacy (language)
Introduction
Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective delivery of engineering projects and services.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- The ability to accurately acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages.
- The ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information.
- The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner.
Justification
The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective delivery of engineering projects and services.
The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for safe and effective delivery of engineering projects and service.
Adjustments
Must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information.
Exemplars
Conveying a spoken message accurately and effectively in an industrial experience setting.
Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions in written assignments.
Producing accurate, concise and clear documentation which meets technical requirements.
5c. Numeracy
Introduction
Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective delivery of engineering projects and services.
Description
Student interprets and correctly applies data, measurements and numerical criteria.
Justification
Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in engineering to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of projects and services.
Adjustments
Must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner.
Exemplars
Performing accurate calculations that represent an engineering system.
Demonstrate accurate interpretation of engineering system response data.
6. Sensory ability (visual)
Introduction
Adequate visual acuity is required to undertake safe and effective engineering practices.
Description
Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to undertake the required range of tasks.
Justification
Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, through the performance of relevant tasks and assessments whilst maintaining consistent, accurate and safe care to self and others.
Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective engineering practice.
Adjustments
Should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide safe engineering services. These adjustments may include, but are not limited to adaptive equipment, assistive technology, practical assistant personnel or modifications to the task which do not impact upon the academic knowledge and skills required to complete it.
Exemplars
Accurately using instrumentation for measurements.
Observing and detecting subtle changes in responses to engineering systems using instrumentation.
7a. Strength and mobility (gross motor)
Introduction
Utilisation of appropriate gross motor skills is required in industrial experience to complete various tasks.
Description
Student demonstrates the ability to complete gross motor tasks to function within scope of practice.
Justification
Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to complete various engineering tasks. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others. Self-awareness requires the ability to effectively manage one's reactions to situations that may arise.
Adjustments
Should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide safe engineering services. These adjustments may include, but are not limited to adaptive equipment, assistive technology, practical assistant personnel or modifications to the task which do not impact upon the academic knowledge and skills required to complete it.
Exemplars
Repair of engineering systems.
Transporting field equipment during data collection phase of engineering projects.
7b. Strength and mobility (fine motor)
Introduction
Engineering is a profession that requires manual dexterity and the ability to complete fine motor skills is fundamental in providing adequate engineering services.
Description
Student demonstrates the ability to use fine motor skills to complete various engineering tasks.
Justification
Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to complete various engineering tasks. Tasks that include fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects. Students must be able to demonstrate these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
Adjustments
Should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide safe engineering services. These adjustments may include, but are not limited to adaptive equipment, assistive technology, practical assistant personnel or modifications to the task which do not impact upon the academic knowledge and skills required to complete it.
Exemplars
Manipulating instruments in tests and measurements.
Using knobs and dials in equipment used for field data collection.
8. Sustainable performance
Introduction
Engineering practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time.
Description
Student demonstrates:
- Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time.
- The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately.
- The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated engineering practice.
Justification
Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and appropriate engineering services.
Adjustments
Must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
Exemplars
Participating in tutorials, lectures, and laboratories throughout the day.
Providing consistent engineering practices over a negotiated time frame.
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