Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The community, government and private organisations are increasingly interested in environmental management, corporate compliance with environmental laws and adopting sustainable practices. Organisations rely on environmental management, sustainability and HSE professionals to effectively manage environmental and sustainability issues.

This unit develops the advanced skills and knowledge which are essential for environmental management at an organisational level. The unit also encourages you to critically evaluate and apply current concepts of sustainability in a workplace setting.

The unit builds on the previous units offered in the Master of Health, Safety and Environment. It assumes a high level understanding of the science and the legal framework for environmental management developed in the previous units.

Aims

The aim of the unit is to enable you to understand and apply environmental management and sustainability practices in practical settings.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit you will:

1. Determine and advise which environmental management and sustainability laws, policies and industry practices are relevant to individual organisations.

Plan, implement and assess effective environmental management and sustainability strategies in a variety of contexts.

2. Analyse data from environmental audits/reviews to make recommendations to improve environmental and sustainability outcomes.


3. Advocate for improvements in environmental and sustainability outcomes.

Content

Topics covered in this unit include: sustainability; environmental management systems; energy, water and waste minimisation; environmental auditing; compliance monitoring and corporate reporting; development applications and land-use planning processes; rehabilitation and remediation processes; heritage conservation; and environmental economics, policy and policy change. Effective communication of environmental management and sustainability information will also be examined.

You will gain a working knowledge of environmental management and sustainability legislation, policies and practices and on the completion of the unit will be able to apply this information in a range of contexts.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

To maximise your engagement with the learning materials in this unit, a combination of face to face and regular technologically - supported communication, online discussion, web tools and podcasts will be used to generate a rich, social learning environment. Lectures and web conferences will be recorded to enable some flexibility in the location, time and mode of study, with respect to work and life commitments.

Self-directed learning will be supported by study modules. There is also an intensive two day on-campus workshop session planned which will include a field trip to explore how a large organisation manages their environmental and sustainability obligations.

Blackboard will be used extensively to provide: unit information, details on assessment items, access to lecture notes, links to relevant documents and websites, on-line exercises, and a means of communicating notices to students.

Feedback will be provided to you on written assignments and there will be regular discussion sessions held on Blackboard. Formative activities online will be based on case studies and real world scenarios.

Assessment

Each assessment type in this unit will be subject to internal /external moderation, such as cross unit discussions and regular meetings of assessors, to ensure that marks awarded by different teaching staff are internally consistent and meet appropriate academic standards (MOPP C/5.2).Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning to that point. You will be provided with written feedback on all your assessments as you progress through the unit.

Assessment name: Environmental Audit
Description: You will be required to undertake an environmental audit focusing on water use, energy use or waste generation. The findings of the audit and recommendations to improve environmental and sustainability outcomes are submitted in the form of a written report.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Report
Description: You will be required to write a report detailing the current environmental management and sustainability practices of a large organisation; an assessment of the suitability of the current practices; and recommended improvements.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Exam
Description: You will be required to complete a written, timed, closed-book examination.
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central exam period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There are no recommended texts required to be purchased for this unit.

Resources will be available on the Course Material Database (CMD), Blackboard or online from the QUT library website.

Travel and accommodation costs may be incurred by students who attend the intensive on-campus workshop. QUT will arrange for a bus to transport students from the QUT Kelvin Grove campus to the field trip site and the return trip at no cost to students.

High visibility vests and hats will be provided to students attending the field trip.

Risk assessment statement

Substantial computer-based work will be required. You should refer to the guidelines for safe work at VDUs contained in the School of Public Health and Social Work (SPH&SW) Guidelines for Students. You should ensure that your workstations are adjusted in accordance with these guidelines and that regular rest breaks are taken.

As noted above, there will be a field trip to a workplace. You may also undertake independent visits to organisations that are the subject of your second assessment item. You should be aware of and abide by the workplace health and safety requirements of the workplace and you are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate. It will be necessary to wear appropriate enclosed footwear and consider personal sun protection options (e.g. sunscreen, hats) while on the field trip for this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 04-Oct-2012