UnitLevel 5Postgraduate

ENS5930 Sustainability internship

Faculty of Science

ENS5930 Sustainability internship is a level 5, 12-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2026 in Summer A, Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer B at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
12
Offered in 2026
Summer A, Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer B
Clayton
Assessment
No exam
4 tasks

This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Before ENS5930

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

After ENS5930

No unit lists ENS5930 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.

Enrolment rules

COREQUISITE: You must be enrolled in the Master of Environment and Sustainability or the Master of Green Chemistry and Sustainable Technologies.

PROHIBITION: ENS5900, ENS5901, ENS5902, ENS5910, ENS5920. This unit cannot be undertaken with other advanced practice units except by special approval from the specialisation coordinator. Preparatory you should complete Part B before taking the unit.

PREREQUISITE: A distinction average (70%) across Masters core units is required.

Overview

ENS5930 (12 credit points) is the unit for those who wish to undertake a professional internship during a semester of the advanced practice year of the Master of Environment and Sustainability. You will undertake a project defined by a host organisation domestically or internationally with the approval of the unit and specialisation coordinator. The placement will be six week full-time or part-time equivalent hours. It may be an affiliated arrangement where a consultancy or research project is carried out in association with the organisation and physical location at the organisation is not required. Host organisations may be from a diverse range of industries and sectors, including government departments, private industry and not-for-profit organisations. You will communicate the project findings to the host organisation in the format specified by the host organisation, such as a consultation paper, report, commentary, manual, submission or speech. The host organisation provides field supervision, and the faculty provides academic supervision. The unit includes some scheduled activities alongside the project work to enhance and develop professional skills. Anyone from any specialisation can undertake this unit if they fulfil the academic requirements and gain approval from the appropriate coordinators.

Offerings in 2026

Teaching periodCampusMode
Summer semester AClaytonImmers blk
First semesterClaytonImmers blk
Second semesterClaytonImmers blk
Summer semester BClaytonImmers blk

Assessment

  • AT1: Placement brief and work planWork integrated
    10%
  • AT2: Records and reflectionsWritten
    20%
  • AT3: Oral presentation on one key changePresentation
    20%
  • AT4: Major report including the self and supervisor reviewWork integrated
    50%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Apply broad discipline knowledge to find solutions to complex problems.

  2. 2

    Exercise critical thinking and professional judgment in developing new understandings.

  3. 3

    Plan, execute and reflect upon a professional project with a degree of independence and accountability.

  4. 4

    Communicate in a clear and coherent way that is effective for the purpose and the intended audience.

  5. 5

    Collaborate with others on a project in a workplace setting.

Workload and teaching

  • Workshops6 hours
  • Teaching approachProblem-based learning
  • Teaching approachActive learning
  • Teaching approachProfessional placement
  • Teaching approachOnline learning
  • Teaching approachWork-integrated learning
  • Teaching approachResearch activities

The minimum expected workload for the internship placement combined with any scheduled activities is 288 hours over the course of one semester. The internship placement will be 6 weeks full time or part time equivalent. The exact timing and distribution of hours for individual placements will be determined by negotiation between student and host.

You will attend a workshop at the beginning of semester for unit induction.  Another workshop will be scheduled for the end of semester presentations.

Partner organisations may be from a diverse range of industries and sectors, including government departments, private industry and not-for-profit organisations. You will communicate the project findings and outcomes (transferable and technical) in the final major report with a focus specified by the partner organisation in conjunction with the student and requirements of the assessment. The partner organisation provides field supervision, and the faculty provides the academic supervision.

In the unit, you are expected to complete various assessment tasks (AT1 through to AT4). This includes a work plan and brief (AT1), two short stand-alone reflections on major professional challenges (AT2), an oral presentation on one key change in the student resulting from the placement experience (AT3), and a final major report including analysis and reflection as well as a self and supervisor review (AT4).

This unit uses a range of learning approaches (below) but it is primarily taught via experiential learning during the work-integrated professional placement. You will also undertake some required online assessment, one induction and one onboarding session, a self-elected professional Career Connect session of your choosing, and one interactive presentation forum in Week 13.

  • Experiential learning
  • Online and face to face learning
  • Professional placement
  • Work-integrated learning
  • Professional reflection
  • Problem-based learning for most placements
  • Research activities for some placements
  • Active learning
  • Oral presentation
  • Peer to peer networking

The professional experience, reflection tasks and other assessment tasks aim to provide a mixture of theory, self-awareness, and practical experience, which are essential elements of professional development.

In the unit, you are expected to complete various assessment tasks. This includes a work plan and brief (AT1), two short stand-alone reflections on your approaches to overcoming professional challenges (AT2), an oral presentation on one key change in you resulting from the placement experience (AT3), and a final major report including analysis and reflection (AT4).

Reflection on professional challenges and personal and professional development is important in the unit. This aims to establish a habit of life-long learning and a growth mindset; these are important in the rapidly changing work environment.

All assessment information is available on the Moodle page. You should regularly consult the Moodle page for assessment resources and announcements. See the Assignment Book for all assignment guidelines, marking rubrics, resources, examples, and submission drop boxes.

Your self-elected assessment due dates: You will set your own due dates based upon the timing, duration and nature of your own individual placement. Go to Moodle to set your own assessment deadlines using our guide. Staff will monitor assessment based on the dates you set. This self-elected process enables flexibility and recognises the variety of different placements being undertaken in terms of start dates and duration. You will need to nominate your due dates within two weeks of gaining access to the ENS5930 Moodle.

You will undertake a project defined by a partner organisation, domestically or internationally, with the approval of the Industry Experience (IE) team and the unit coordinator. Partner organisations may be from a diverse range of industries and sectors, including government departments, private industry and not-for-profit organisations. You will join the partner organisation for six weeks full-time, or part-time equivalent. The partner organisation provides field supervision, and the faculty provides the academic supervision

You will undertake some research tasks associated with duties outlined by the partner organisation or in the development of assessment tasks.

Learning resources

Required resources

All assessment information is available on the Moodle page. You should regularly consult the Moodle page for assessment resources and announcements. It is highly recommended that you check the Moodle page at least twice per week.

Recommended resources

Online check-ins

To gain maximum benefit from the unit, you should work through the check-ins in given weeks (see Moodle). These provide prompts for reflection/journalling, resources, and reminders about upcoming assessment tasks.

Your personal 12 week program and self-elected assessment due dates: Go to Moodle to set your own personal assessment deadlines based upon the commencement date of your particular placement. You will need to lodge your personal dates in a Google sheet, thereby committing to your personal due dates. Staff will monitor assessment based on these dates. You will submit assessments during different times, based upon when you commenced the placement personally. This self-elected process enables flexibility for you and recognises the variety of different placements being undertaken in terms of start dates and duration. You will be able to nominate your due dates upon gaining access to Moodle (see the 'Your Personal Timeline' section on Moodle for more information and to lodge your due dates).

Contacts

Chief Examiners
Dr Emily Faulconer
Unit Coordinators
Dr Emily Faulconer

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for ENS5930?

ENS5930 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

When is ENS5930 offered?

In 2026, ENS5930 runs in Summer A, Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer B at Clayton.

Does ENS5930 have an exam?

No. ENS5930 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.

More details

Credit points
12
Level
5
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.250
Student contribution
SCA Band 2
Study abroad
Not available