Module catalogue: FE7057

FE7057 - Practical Sustainability (2023/24)

Module specification

Module approved to run in 2023/24

Module title

Practical Sustainability

Module level

Masters (07)

Credit rating for module

School

Guildhall School of Business and Law

Total study hours

200

152 hours	Guided independent study
36 hours	Scheduled learning & teaching activities
12 hours	Assessment Preparation / Delivery

Assessment components

Type	Weighting	Qualifying mark	Description
Coursework	100%		An individual report - 3000 words

Running in 2023/24

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)

Period	Campus	Day	Time	Module Leader
Spring semester	North	Wednesday	Afternoon

Module summary

This module enables the student to have the opportunity to become familiar with the award-winning practical achievements of the University in the area of environmental protection.

This will incorporate an introduction to the practices and achievements of the University’s Sustainability Department. It will lead to a one-day practical training to undertake an environmental audit, organised by the University Estates Department, followed by a Practical Audit exercise conducted among University employees. Completion of this exercise will lead to the award of the Certificate in Environmental Auditing

During the semester the students will be addressed by professional environmentalists and managers involved in changing their industries to meet and raise environmental standards.

Students will also have the opportunity to work with staff organising the ‘Green Week’ held in the spring in the University, contributing to the talks’ series, and be invited to listen to the attendant outside speakers.

Students will have the opportunity to receive environmental auditor training which is accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. After receiving the training, students will undertake a practical exercise to audit University staff including those who may have completed the National Union of Students Green Impact scheme.

Site visits may be made. Past visits have included Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Islington Borough Bunhill Combined Heat and Power site, and Cancer Research-UK. This will allow students to become familiar with different technologies and techniques that can be used to reduce the environmental impact of buildings.

Subsequently the students will be required to prepare a three thousand word proposal for a sustainability report.

The proposal may be a function of a work experience, or the result of independent research. Students will investigate a sector, an organisation, an industry or issue with the aim of making clear recommendations from the research carried out. Each student will agree a topic for the report with the module leader.

Note: If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the School reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the School cancels a module it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative.

Prior learning requirements

N/A

Syllabus

The syllabus will include:

• Developing environmental sustainability strategies (LO1 and 2)

• Overview of ISO 14001 and 5001 (LO4)

• Environmental auditing for supporting and improving sustainable solutions (LO3)

• Energy generation technologies (LO3)

• Developing the business case for the sustainable refurbishment of buildings (LO1 and 2)

• Obtaining funding for sustainable solutions (LO3)

• Environmental awareness and engagement campaigns (LO4)

• The performance gap between what is specified in a building and how it operates (LO5).

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

The module will consist of a series of weekly lecture and seminar/training sessions, with the total student contact time of 3 hours per week/36 hours over 12 weeks. Lectures will introduce key topics related to Practical Sustainability.

Guest speakers may be invited from various organisations to discuss various environmental issues that face businesses and how they can be solved. The speakers may also discuss their career development paths and give advice on how to seek employment in the field of sustainability.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Work independently to plan and deliver an environment audit proposal for the organisation where they work or an organisation of their choice to a professional standard and demonstrate self-direction, innovation and originality in tackling and solving problems.

2. Apply appropriate research methods to propose, support and improve sustainable solutions.

3. Demonstrate high order skills of analysis, evaluation and synthesis, using tools and techniques that identify opportunities and risks in dealing with a business environment challenge.

4. Discuss and critically evaluate findings generated by the practical experience in the module with reference to the existing literature.

5. Make sound judgements in the absence of complete information, and communicate these findings clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Assessment strategy

The module will be assessed by an individual report of 3000 words, comprising

a long essay/project, addressing the issues of practical sustainability in a work setting chosen by the student. This, when possible, is from the students own working experience. Students will present, orally and visually, their ongoing work during the semester in class with a view to obtaining ongoing feedback.

Bibliography

Reading List Talis Link:

https://bblearn.londonmet.ac.uk/webapps/blackboard/content/launchLink.jsp?course_id=_43471_1&tool_id=_2924_1&tool_type=TOOL&mode=cpview&mode=reset

Core Text:

Avlonas. N. et al. Practical Sustainability Strategies: How to gain a competitive advantage (Wiley, 2nd Edition, 2020)

module specification