CQUniversity Unit Profile

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Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.
COIT20249 Professional Skills and Ethics in Information and Communications Technology
Professional Skills and Ethics in Information and Communications Technology
All details in this unit profile for COIT20249 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit offers the foundational communication skills, expectations, and ethical considerations that shape the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals, also called digital professionals. Through hands-on activities, you will learn to communicate professionally, both in written and verbal forms, fostering clear and persuasive communication. The unit delves into strategies for effective interpersonal communication within team settings, promoting collaborative teamwork and conflict resolution. It equips you to develop and deliver effective oral presentations underpinned by critical thinking. In addition, this unit strongly emphasises ethics and codes of conduct in the ICT profession. You will apply ethical principles to real-world ICT scenarios, demonstrating ethical, legal, and societal decision-making competencies. Through a blend of theory and practical in-class activities, you will be well-prepared to navigate the multifaceted landscape of ICT professionalism.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Anti-requisite: COIT20233 Professional Skills for Information and Communication Technology.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2025

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Rockhampton
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Teaching Team Feedback

Feedback

The unit seamlessly integrates lecture content, tutorial activities, and assessment requirements to ensure a cohesive learning experience.

Recommendation

Foster the current learning and teaching practices.

Feedback from Unit Coordinator

Feedback

The rising use of generative artificial intelligence for professional communication has left students uncertain about how to effectively utilise this technology.

Recommendation

Integrate in-class generative artificial intelligence activities to help students understand its potential uses and limitations within the context of their studies.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Describe the skills and expectations that define ICT professionals, including attributes, communication skills, and ethical considerations
  2. Illustrate the ability to communicate professionally, facilitating clear and persuasive communication in both written and verbal forms
  3. Apply effective strategies for interpersonal communication within team settings to foster collaborative teamwork
  4. Develop and deliver compelling oral presentations supported by critical thinking, ensuring convincing and impactful communication of complex concepts
  5. Demonstrate the application of ethical principles and codes of conduct to real-world ICT scenarios, showcasing ethical, legal and societal decision-making competencies.

The Australian Computer Society (ACS), the professional association for Australia's ICT sector, recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is adopted by organisations, governments, and individuals in many countries and provides a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles. ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile. This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA 8 (the SFIA code is included):

  • Business situation analysis (BUSA)
  • Business administration (ADMN)
  • Competency assessment (LEDA)
  • Consultancy (CNSL)
  • Emerging technology monitoring (EMRG)
  • Learning delivery (ETDL)
  • Requirements definition and management (REQM)
  • Research (RSCH)
  • Risk management (BURM)

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Presentation - 20%
2 - Portfolio - 45%
3 - Report - 35%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Information for Textbooks and Resources has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 17 February 2025
Academic Integrity Statement

Information for Academic Integrity Statement has not been released yet.

This unit profile has not yet been finalised.