Introduction to Engineering

Welcome to Introduction to Engineering, the first unit to begin your engineering course journey. This unit is not just about learning the fundamentals, it is about understanding the role, responsibilities and impact engineers have on society. In this unit, you will explore the role of engineers in shaping the built environment through real-world challenges, with a focus on ethical responsibilities, sustainability, and teamwork and opportunities for industry collaboration. This includes an introduction to First Nations peoples’ perspectives, delivered by the Moondani Balluk Indigenous Academic Unit team.

You will collaborate with professionals from engineering companies, government agencies, or non-profit organisations to tackle real-world engineering challenges, and this hands-on experience will allow you to apply problem-solving, project management, and design skills to address contemporary global issues. In addition to these practical skills, you will also gain essential technical knowledge, including an introduction to computer-aided design (CAD), technical drawing, and programming tools such as MATLAB and Python. Your mathematical abilities will be developed through algebra, calculus, vectors, and linear algebra, with an emphasis on applying these concepts using tools like Excel and programming software.

By the end of this unit, you will have a basic understanding of the engineering design process, relevant teamwork and communication skills, and ethical considerations that shape engineering decisions. This will prepare you for further studies in engineering, giving you the tools and mindset to face the challenges and opportunities the profession offers.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Explain the role of an engineer in society, considering ethical, environmental, social, cultural, and sustainability aspects, including an understanding and respect for the history, culture, and continuing contributions of First Nations peoples;
2. Demonstrate foundational professional skills, including teamwork, project management, effective communication, self-management, and professional conduct, in collaborative engineering settings;
3. Apply foundational engineering skills, including numerical analysis, data interpretation, graphical analysis, and the evaluation of trends and uncertainties;
4. Collaborate effectively in a small team to articulate technical and disciplinary understanding effectively through structured written reports and oral presentations appropriate to diverse audiences; and
5. Interpret academic texts, applying principles of academic integrity and reflective practice to engage with the academic community.