Advancing Sustainable Solutions
| Module title | Advancing Sustainable Solutions |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEP3004 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Edvard Glucksman (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 6 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module equips students with the skills to refine, implement, and evaluate sustainable solutions. It focuses on scaling solutions for greater impact, measuring social, environmental, and economic outcomes, and exploring financing mechanisms for sustainable projects. Students will examine human behaviour in sustainability transitions and strategies to promote pro-environmental behaviours. The module covers sustainable supply chains, circular economies, sustainable urban development, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Emphasising social justice and equity, it encourages future thinking for sustainable development and cultivates leadership skills to drive positive change towards a more sustainable future.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to equip students with advanced skills and knowledge to develop, refine, and implement sustainable solutions. Through exploring design thinking principles and policy frameworks, students will gain the ability to create innovative and impactful sustainability initiatives. They will refine solutions by incorporating stakeholder feedback and learn strategies for scaling up projects to achieve greater impact.
Students will master advanced methodologies for measuring social, environmental, and economic impacts, and explore various funding mechanisms for sustainable projects. They will analyse human behaviour’s role in sustainability transitions and develop strategies to promote pro-environmental behaviours. By studying global supply chains and the circular economy model, students will understand how to promote sustainable consumption patterns and manage resources effectively.
The module also covers sustainable urban development and climate change mitigation and adaptation, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges. Throughout the course, students will develop transferable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and effective communication, empowering them to lead and innovate in the field of sustainability.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Refine and implement sustainable solutions
- 2. Evaluate sustainability outcomes
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Analyse human behaviour in sustainability transitions
- 4. Explore sustainable supply chains and circular economies
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Leadership, collaboration, future thinking and social justice for a sustainable future
Syllabus plan
The academic content of this module includes:
- Design Thinking: Introduction to design thinking principles and their application in developing sustainable solutions.
- Policy and Governance: Exploration of policy frameworks and governance structures that support sustainability initiatives.
- Refining and Scaling Solutions: Techniques for refining solutions, incorporating stakeholder feedback, and strategies for scaling up to achieve greater impact.
- Measuring and Evaluating Impact: Advanced methodologies for assessing the social, environmental, and economic impacts of sustainable solutions.
- Financing Sustainable Solutions: Examination of funding mechanisms and financial models to support sustainable projects.
- Behavioural Change and Sustainability: Analysis of human behaviour’s role in sustainability transitions and strategies to promote pro-environmental behaviours.
- Sustainable Supply Chains and Consumption: Study of global supply chains' environmental and social impacts, promoting sustainable consumption patterns, and reducing ecological footprints.
- Circular Economy and Resource Management: Understanding the circular economy model for sustainable resource management.
- Sustainable Cities and Urban Planning: Investigation of challenges and opportunities in sustainable urban development.
- Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Examination of climate change science, impacts, and urgent solutions needed.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Guided independent study | 40 | Recorded lectures, multimedia and relevant reading. |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 34 | Flipped classroom workshops to support each key subject area. |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 10 | Interdisciplinary tutorials with programme director. |
| Guided independent study. | 216 | Group and individual work on assignments. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group in-class presentations | 5 minutes with additional Q&A | 2, 3, 5 | Written and oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group Community Initiative Proposal | 20 | 1,500 words equivalent | 1, 3,5 | Written |
| Individual Impact Evaluation Report | 30 | 2,000 words equivalent | 2, 4, 5 | Written |
| Individual Digital Showcase | 50 | 2,500 words equivalent | 1, 2, 4 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Community Initiative Proposal | Individual Community Initiative Proposal (20%, 1,500 words equivalent) | 2, 3, 5 | Referral/deferral period |
| Individual Impact Evaluation Report | Individual Impact Evaluation Report (30%, 2,000 words equivalent) | 1, 4, 5 | Referral/deferral period |
| Individual Digital Showcase | Individual Digital Showcase (50%, 2,500 words equivalent) | 1, 3, 4 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Al-Kilani M, Hinz A, Milow U. Core Values and Decision-Making for Sustainable Business. Springer Nature
- Deutz P, Vermeulen WJV, Baumgartner RJ. Circular Economy Realities. Taylor and Francis
- Mihelcic JR and Zimmerman JB. Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design. Wiley
- Nielsen SL, Klyver K, Evald MR and Bager T. Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice. Elgar.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None. |
| Module co-requisites | None. |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 14/02/2025 |
| Last revision date | 14/02/2025 |
