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Unit of study_

ECON6600: Economics Capstone

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit serves as the capstone unit for the Economics specialisation. While economics is strongly influenced by theory, it is ultimately an applied field. It encourages students to bring together their knowledge in economics and methodological skills to analyse a real-world economic problem with implications for business. The unit involves the completion and presentation of a professional report with an emphasis on students acquiring skills to identify an economic problem; undertake some economic analysis and communicate the results.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ECON6600
Academic unit Economics
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
18 credit points towards the Economics specialisation including (ECON5040 and ECON5002)
Corequisites
? 
6 credit points towards the Economics specialisation
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator IKM Mokhtarul Wadud, mokhtarul.wadud@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) IKM Mokhtarul Wadud, mokhtarul.wadud@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Written Assignment-Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL)
This assignment is based on students' Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL)
20% Week 07
Due date: 09 Apr 2023 at 23:59
500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment Final Presentation
This assignment requires students to present their final research report.
20% Week 12
Due date: 21 May 2023 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Assignment Final Project Report
This is the final written project report to be submitted.
60% Week 13
Due date: 28 May 2023 at 23:59
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Assessment summary

  • Written Assignment Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL): This assignment requires students to submit a written document based on their WIL experiences.
  • Final Presentation: This assignment requires students to make an oral presentation of findings of their research projects.
  • Final Project Report: This assignment requires students to submit a written report of their completed research projects.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85-100

Outstanding

Distinction

75-84

Superior

Credit

65-74

Sound

Pass

50-64

Satisfactory

Fail

0-49

When you don’t meet the learning outcome of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: Economics and the Real World, Research Methods- topic selection, research questions, objectives. Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) Guest Lecture 1, WIL Exercises, Research Methods- quantitative vs qualitative, theoretical and applied research. Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 03 WIL Guest Lecture 2, WIL Exercises, Research Methods- Literature Review Basics Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 04 WIL Guest Lecture 3, WIL Exercises, Your research questions, objectives, Contribution to literature Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 05 WIL Guest Lecture 4, WIL Exercise, Research Methodology, Feasibility of your Project Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 WIL Guest Lecture 5, WIL Exercises, Feasibility of your project – Data and resources Workshop (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 07 Your project Methodology, Data collection and Analysis - Submission of WIL assignment this week (Assessment Component). Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Project proposal pre-recorded video or live presentation, submission – Ed discussion folder Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Analysis and interpretation of your research results. Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Finalising your research findings and drawing implications. Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Writing your major project report Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Final Project Presentation - pre-recorded or live (Assessment Component) Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Review, Submission of project report as research paper (Assessment Component) Workshop (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Analyse and solve economic challenges relevant to business by applying fundamental concepts and principles from economics.
  • LO2. Evaluate empirical data to test hypotheses and assess implications for various business contexts.
  • LO3. Analyse complex and authentic economic problems by using analytical tools, models, quantitative and/or qualitative methods and considering ethical dimensions where relevant.
  • LO4. Critically evaluate and synthesise original information from diverse sources including academic research and public and private sector reports.
  • LO5. Integrate perspectives from diverse cultural backgrounds as well as perspectives and practice from other business disciplines.
  • LO6. Communicate professionally and effectively by constructing coherent, succinct and persuasive arguments and recommendations, preparing effective presentation materials, and applying academic writing skills.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.