Assessment 1 (40%) is based on discussions with your peers. In weeks 1 - 3 you will participate in weekly whole-of-unit discussions on introductory topics related to the social licence to operate. In weeks 5 - 12 you will be placed into small discussion groups to participate in fortnightly debates based on statements relating to a topic covered in that fortnight (each fortnight will correspond to: weeks 5 and 6; weeks 7 and 8; weeks 9 and 10; and weeks 11 and 12). You will be assigned a position (for or against) the statement and must argue for your assigned position, even if you personally disagree with it. This assessment will allow you to gain a variety of perspectives on contentious agricultural issues. You must participate in the discussion boards by posting at least one 300 - 500 word post in each week's discussion thread. You may post more than once in order to advance the debate and discussion with your peers. 

Use of Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)

Level 2: AI may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of AI for planning, synthesis and ideation, but assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently. You may use AI for planning, idea development and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Please note that the 72-hour grace period is not permitted for this assessment. If you require additional time to complete this task you will need to apply for an extension through Moodle. 

In this assessment you will be marked on:

• Effective representation of your assigned position with respect to the statement
• The quality of your written communication, including persuasive writing and maintaining a respectful dialogue with your peers
• Use of evidence to support your statements (which must be referenced appropriately)

Assessment 2 is a written assessment in the form of a 2000-word condensed journal article. In this assessment you will be provided with mock data results in the form of survey responses to questions related to the social licence to operate in agriculture. Using this mock data set, you are to write a paper in the form of a condensed journal article. You will need to provide an introduction, including a literature review to establish the context, relevance, and importance of the study within the existing academic landscape; usefully present this data in a results section; and provide a discussion to explain the significance of the data with respect to current academic understanding. Your paper should be structured as follows, with suggested word counts provided in parentheses:

1. Introduction (700 - 800 words)

2. Results (this is largely informed by the data set you are provided) (250 - 350 words)

3. Discussion (900 - 1000 words)

4. References

The word limit does not include headings, tables, figure legends and references. The word count of your paper should remain within 10% of the word limit (1800 to 2200 words).

The mock data will be emailed to you individually in week 3.

Use of Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)

Level 3: AI may be used to help complete the task, including idea generation, drafting, feedback and refinement. Students should critically evaluate and modify the AI suggested outputs, demonstrating their understanding. You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.

You will be marked on:

• Clear and professional written communication
• Ability to define the social licence to operate
• Strength of the introduction in establishing the context, relevance, and importance of the study within the existing academic landscape
• Meaningful and professional presentation of the results 
• Analysis of the mock data 
• Depth and strength of the discussion
• Ability to formulate conclusions
• Formatting and Referencing

A marking rubric will be available to you on Moodle

Task Description
Assessment 3 is based on one of a selection of four scenarios. Each scenario contains details of a crisis facing an agribusiness or agricultural industry, which you will be representing. You will be provided with all of the specifications of the scenario. 

Assessment 3 (30%) is comprised of three components: live presentation (group task: 20/30), response to questions (individual task: 5/30) and a self and peer assessment (individual task: 5/30). Only one member of the group should submit the slides for the presentation, but all students will need to be involved in the delivery of the live presentation. All students will need to submit their individual written report and self and peer assessment (SPA).

Part A: Group Presentation

Part A is worth 20 out of the total 30 marks available for this assessment.

Based on the selected scenario, you are to work in small groups (3-4 people) to develop a 20-minute presentation recommending the steps that the relevant agribusiness or industry should take to respond to the crisis, build trust and be granted a social licence to operate once again. You will be provided with all of the specifications of the scenario.

In the scenario provided, the corporation or industry you are presenting the recommendations to takes social licence very seriously and recognises that regaining a social licence is a vital part of their obligations to the community. As such, that corporation’s leadership team are willing to implement all of the measures that you and your team recommend in order to ensure that the crisis is managed, trust is rebuilt and a social licence is granted once more. They have issued you with a budget of $500 000 over the next three years to achieve this. They have asked your team to prepare a 20-minute presentation that must be presented in the following format:

1. Title.

2. Introduction to the presentation and summary of the crisis. Here you should also explain the concept of a social licence to operate.

3. Identify key stakeholder groups and the impacts of the crisis on them.

4. Strategy for measuring the impact of the crisis on the social licence to operate.

5. Suggestions on how the corporation will respond to the crisis in the short term (next 24 - 200 hours), medium term (1 to 6 months), and long term (6 to 24 months) to manage the crisis, rebuild trust and regain a social licence to operate, including any innovative strategies.

6. A budget for achieving what you have outlined

7. Conclusion.

8. References.

9. Statement of Contribution (Here you must outline the contributions of each group member to the presentation).

You may reference information from a variety of sources including peer-reviewed journal articles, survey data (gathered by others), government reports, consultant reports, media sources and other reliable sources. You must include at least 10 references.

You may present your presentation in first person plural (i.e. “we” “us”) or in third person. You must remain within 1 minute of the time limit (19 to 21 minutes).

Your presentation will be delivered live during an agreed upon time in Week 12, and will be recorded for marking and review purposes. All group members must be present during the presentation and each must contribute to the delivery of the presentation.

Part B: Individual Assessment, Response to Questions

Part B of Assessment 3 is an individual task based on the presentation. Each member of the group will be required to respond to at least two questions after the conclusion of the presentation. The questions may relate to any aspect of the presentation.

Part B is worth 5 out of the total 30 marks available for this assessment

Part C: Self and Peer Assessment

You will also be required to submit a Self and Peer Assessment for this assessment (Details on conducting the Self and Peer Assessment will be provided on Moodle). Part C is due on Saturday of Week 12 at 11:45PM.

Part C is worth 5 out of the total 30 marks available for this assessment.

Use of Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)

Part A: Level 2: AI may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of AI for planning, synthesis and ideation, but assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently. You may use AI for planning, idea development and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Parts B and C: Level 1: The assessment is completed entirely without AI assistance in a controlled environment, ensuring that students rely solely on their existing knowledge, understanding, and skills. You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

Please note that the 72-hour grace period is not permitted for this assessment. If you require additional time to complete this task you will need to apply for an extension through Moodle. 

Marking Rubrics will be available via Moodle.

For the presentation (Part A) you will be marked on:

• Clear, professional and appropriate oral communication
• Ability to define the social licence to operate
• Identification and discussion of relevant social licence to operate issues
• Effective explanation and justification of your farm's activities
• The quality of the various proposed community-related strategies
• Appropriate and clear budgeting
• Formatting and Presentation

For the individual task (Part B) you will be marked on:

• Your ability to insightfully and clearly answer the questions

• Clear and professional communication

• The use of references to support your claims where necessary