Please Note: This study summary comprises excerpts from the VCE Systems Engineering Study
Design. The summary is not a substitute for the VCE Study Design. Users are advised to consult the VCAA website http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/futuresd.html
to view the full accredited study design and other resources.
VCE Systems Engineering involves the design, creation, operation and evaluation of integrated systems, which mediate and control many aspects of human experience. Integral to Systems
Engineering is the identification and quantification of systems goals, the development of alternative system designs concepts, trial and error, design trade-offs, selection and implementation of the best design, testing and verifying that the system is well built and integrated, and evaluating how well the completed system meets the intended goals.
This study can be applied to a diverse range of engineering fields such as manufacturing, land, water, air and space transportation, automation, control technologies, mechanisms and mechatronics, electrotechnology, robotics, pneumatics, hydraulics, and energy management.
Systems Engineering considers the interactions of these systems with society and natural ecosystems. The rate and scale of human impact on the global ecology and environment demands that systems design and engineering take a holistic approach by considering the overall sustainability of the systems throughout their life cycle. Key engineering goals include using a project management approach to attain efficiency and optimisation of systems through innovation. Lean engineering and lean manufacturing concepts and systems thinking are integral to this study.
VCE Systems Engineering promotes innovative systems thinking and problem-solving skills through the Systems Engineering Process, which takes a project-management approach. It focuses on mechanical and electrotechnology engineered systems.
The study provides opportunities for students to learn about and engage with systems from a practical and purposeful perspective. Students gain knowledge and understanding about, and learn to appreciate and apply technological systems.
VCE Systems Engineering integrates aspects of designing, planning, fabricating, testing and evaluating in a project management process. It prepares students for careers in engineering, manufacturing and design through either a university or TAFE vocational study pathway, employment, apprenticeships and traineeships. The study provides a rigorous academic foundation and a practical working knowledge of design, manufacturing and evaluation techniques. These skills, and the ability to apply systems engineering processes, are growing in demand as industry projects become more complex and multidisciplinary.

VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING 2013–2017 STUDY SUMMARY
The study is made up of four units:
Unit 1: Introduction to mechanical systems
Unit 2: Introduction to electrotechnology systems
Unit 3: Integrated systems engineering and energy
Unit 4: Systems control and new and emerging technologies
Each unit contains two areas of study.
There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3. However, some additional preparatory work would be advisable for students entering Units 3 and 4 without completing Units 1 and 2.
Students must undertake Unit 3 prior to undertaking Unit 4. Units 1 to 4 are designed to a standard equivalent to the final two years of secondary education. All VCE studies are benchmarked against comparable national and international curriculum.
This unit focuses on engineering fundamentals as the basis of understanding underlying principles and the building blocks that operate in simple to more complex mechanical devices.
While this unit contains the fundamental physics and theoretical understanding of mechanical systems and how they work, the main focus is on the construction of a system. The construction process draws heavily upon design and innovation.
Students apply their knowledge to design, construct, test and evaluate operational systems. The focus of the system should be mechanical; however, it may include some electronic components. The constructed operational systems demonstrate selected theoretical principles studied in this unit.
All systems require some form of energy to function. Through research, students explore and quantify how systems use or convert the energy supplied to them.
In this unit, students are introduced to the Systems Engineering Process. They are introduced to the fundamental mechanical engineering principles, including recognition of mechanical subsystems and devices, their motions, the elementary applied physics, and the related mathematical calculations that can be applied to define and explain the physical characteristics of these systems.
In this unit students study fundamental electrotechnology engineering principles. Through the application of their knowledge and the Systems Engineering Process, students produce operational systems that may also include mechanical components. In addition, students conduct research and produce technical reports.
While this unit contains fundamental physics and theoretical understanding of electrotechnology systems and how they work, student focus remains on the construction of electrotechnology systems. The construction process draws heavily upon design and innovation.
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VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING 2013–2017 STUDY SUMMARY
Electrotechnology is experiencing rapid developments and changes through technological innovation. The contemporary design and manufacture of electronic equipment involves increased levels of automation and inbuilt control through the inclusion of microcontrollers. In this unit students explore some of these new and emerging technologies.
Students study fundamental electrotechnology principles including applied electrical theory, representation of electronic components and devices, elementary applied physics in electrical circuits, and mathematical calculations that can be applied to define and explain electrical characteristics of circuits. The unit offers opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in the design, construction, testing and evaluation of an operational system. The system should be predominately electrotech based, but would generally have electro-mechanical components within the system. The constructed system should provide a tangible demonstration of some of the theoretical principles studied in this unit.
In this unit students study the engineering principles that are used to explain the physical properties of integrated systems and how they work. Through the application of their knowledge, students design and plan an operational, mechanical-electrotechnology integrated and controlled system. They learn about the technologies used to harness energy sources to provide power for engineered systems.
Students commence work on the design, planning and construction of one substantial controlled integrated system. This project has a strong emphasis on designing, manufacturing, testing and innovation. Students manage the project throughout the Systems Engineering Process, taking into consideration the factors that will influence the design, planning, production and use of their integrated system. The systems engineering principles underpin students’ understanding of the fundamental physics and applied mathematics needed to provide a comprehensive understanding of mechanical and electrotech systems and how they function.
Students learn about sources and types of energy that enable engineered technological systems to function. Comparisons are made between the impacts of the use of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. Students learn about the technological systems developed to capture and store renewable energy and technological developments to improve the credentials of nonrenewables.
In this unit students complete the production work and test and evaluate the integrated controlled system they designed in Unit 3. Students investigate new and emerging technologies, consider reasons for their development and analyse their impacts.
Students use their investigations, design and planning to continue the fabrication of their mechanical-electrotechnology integrated and controlled system using the Systems Engineering
Process. They use project and risk management methods through the construction of the system and use a range of materials, tools, equipment, and components. In the final stages of the
Systems Engineering Process, students test, diagnose and analyse the performance of the system. They evaluate their processes and the system.
Students expand their knowledge of new and emerging developments and innovations through their investigation and analysis of a range of engineered systems. They analyse a specific new or emerging innovation, including its impacts.
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VCE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING 2013–2017 STUDY SUMMARY
Satisfactory completion
The award of satisfactory completion for a unit is based on a decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit. This decision will be based on the teacher’s assessment of the student’s performance on assessment tasks designated for the unit.
Levels of achievement
Units 1 and 2
Procedures for the assessment of levels of achievement in Units 1 and 2 are a matter for school decision.
Units 3 and 4
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority will supervise the assessment of all students undertaking Units 3 and 4. In the study of Systems Engineering students’ level of achievement will be determined by School-assessed Coursework, a School-assessed Task and an examination.
Percentage contributions to the study score in Systems Engineering are as follows:
• School-assessed Coursework: 20 per cent
• School-assessed Task: 50 per cent
• End-of-year examination: 30per cent
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