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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Sustainable Development
Module Code OSC14 (ITS) / BAA1038 (Banner)
Faculty DCU Business School School DCU Business School
Module Co-ordinatorAideen O'Dochartaigh
Module TeachersAisling Deignan, Ann Whyte
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 15
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Coursework Only
Description

The overall aim of this module is to provide the learner with an understanding of the challenges involved in current best practices for the delivery of sustainable management practices across a range of operational issues specifically, waste, environmental management, energy and water management and procurement management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically appraise key issues in relation to the management of waste within Ireland and communicate the outcome effectively.
2. Assess the appropriateness of self regulation/self assessment as a tool for preemptive environmental management
3. Identify and define key waste management methodologies; compare and contrast key methodologies against the practice within their workplace
4. Develop a critical awareness of innovative solutions to enhance existing best practice in environmental management planning applicable to their own workplace
5. Demonstrate an ability to use an environmental tool such as life cycle assessment, waste audit or a benchmarking exercise
6. Demonstrate an in depth understanding of the interdependencies between their organisation and energy and water resources and to be able to model these interdependencies
7. Develop a critical awareness of emerging technological and market trends, enabling them develop a strategic roadmap for energy and water sustainability for their organisation.
8. Critically evaluate the key issues in the production, management, and usage of energy and water and to communicate the outcomes effectively.
9. Develop a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of the exploitation of these resources on the environment
10. Critically evaluate the importance of the principles and practice of selected topics in procurement including for example life cycle assessment, risk analysis, risk mitigation
11. Demonstrate the use of risk and market analysis techniques
12. Develop a level of conceptual understanding of the principles of building a sustainable procurement system and how to improve of the processes of delivering this system in order to critically evaluate the outcome
13. Critique managerial and technical insights to manage and operate sustainable procurement systems and communicate the outcome effectively.
14. Appraise a series of frameworks for integrating the knowledge of various sustainable strategic approaches into a sustainable procurement strategy for their organisation



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Assignment Completion130Assignment preparation
Seminars7Online seminar
Online activity30No Description
Independent Study150No Description
Tutorial10Online tutorials using Loop
Directed learning50Reading from core texts and resources
Total Workload: 377

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Sustainable Development, Sustainable Waste and Environmental Management
• Sustainable Development, Global Action, Policies and Legislation •Business Theory and Sustainable Development • What is waste and why is it an issue for Climate Change? • What can we do about waste?

Sustainable Procurement
• What is Sustainable Procurement? • Influencing Factors for Sustainable Procurement • Sustainable Procurement Policy •Sustainable Procurement Implementation •Auditing and Evaluation • Green Public Procurement •What’s Next?

Sustainable Water and Sustainable Energy
• Why is water an issue for Climate Change? • Water Policy and Legislation • Water in Ireland • Water Conservation and Water Management •Sustainable Energy I • Global Energy • Sustainable Energy II

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentOnline Discussion and Report33%n/a
AssignmentGroup work and report33%n/a
AssignmentOnline discussion and report33%n/a
Indicative Reading List

  • European Commission: 2000, Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy,
  • MacKay David: 2009, Sustainable Energy Without the Hot Air, UIT Cambridge Ltd,
  • EUROPEAN COMMISSION: 2006, Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council,
  • Savitz: 2013, The Triple Bottom Line, 2nd, 9781118226223
  • Albert Thumann, Terry Niehus, William J. Younger,: 2012, Handbook of Energy Audits, Ninth Edition, 9th, 978-1466561625
Other Resources

None

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