This rubric assesses student work through authentic, real-world learning and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).
Rather than evaluate knowledge acquisition and recollection, the rubric evaluates how students define problems, apply professional practice, think critically and systemically, act ethically, and consider sustainability and community impact. The criteria are drawn from PBL, WIL, futures/systems thinking, interdisciplinary practice, values thinking, and service learning, ensuring assessment aligns with both graduate capabilities and SDG-informed learning.
Why use these criteria?
Problem solving (PBL)
Frames messy, real problems and develops workable responses, key to tackling SDG challenges
Alignment with industry practice (WIL)
Evaluates professional standards, tools, and decision-making, supporting ethical, employable practice
Innovation (Futures and systems thinking)
Rewards forward thinking and understanding of interconnections and unintended impacts, central to sustainable change
Critical thinking (Interdisciplinary)
Values evidence-based judgement across perspectives, essential for complex social/environmental issues
Personal development (Values thinking)
Recognizes reflective growth and ethical reasoning, supporting responsible leadership and SDG-minded practice
Sustainable practice (Service learning)
Assesses meaningful integration of sustainability and/or community benefit, directly operationalizing ESD
Lecturer instructions for applying the rubric
To apply the rubric, lecturers are advised to download the rubric template and follow the steps outlined below.
- Mark based on evidence in the submission (and process artefacts if required), not the “type” of solution. Different approaches can score highly if justified.
- Use the descriptors to judge depth and integration: higher bands show clear reasoning, strong execution, and coherent links between choices, stakeholders, and impacts.
- Apply each criterion independently, then consider the overall quality across criteria for final judgement and feedback.
- In feedback, point to the relevant band language and state one improvement move per criterion (e.g., stronger justification, clearer industry standard, deeper systems impact).
- Where relevant, note which sustainability themes or SDGs the work addresses to reinforce the ESD connection.
