Sustainability in Practice (Work Placement)
| Module title | Sustainability in Practice (Work Placement) |
|---|---|
| Module code | GEOM433 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Kerry Burton (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
More than ever before business and enterprise need to engage with sustainability in both their vision and operation. This module will help students to better understand some of the practical aspects of working within a range of workplaces that benefit from a knowledge of global sustainability solutions. The core of the module is a work placement, which you will secure with ideas from guest speakers who are actively working within a range of relevant sustainability roles, and access to bespoke careers advice. Within your placement, you will have the opportunity to either develop an original project, or to support ongoing work that will articulate sustainability as a core value.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to enable students who have an interest in working in the environment and sustainability sector to develop transferable skills, through work experience with a relevant organisation, an online skills development programme, and guest speakers from a range of sustainability focussed workplaces. You will have the opportunity to gain experience in the sector and to develop a range of transferable career skills.
In Term 1 students will work through an online programme (approx. 12 hours) aimed at developing knowledge about key practices and skills within the field of sustainability and will have seminar sessions with a range of experts currently working within sustainability related careers and consultancy. Alongside this, there will be opportunities to work with specialist university career advisors to enable students to develop their employability prospects and find suitable work placements. Topics introduced may include, key regulatory frameworks, certification models (such a BCorp), circular economy resource management, and place-based transitions.
In Terms 2 and 3, students will find and undertake a 3-week (or 105 hours FTE) work placement, supported by the faculty placement team. The placement must be completed before the assessment deadline.
The module will:
- Enable you to find and gain work experience within a sustainability-oriented role or consultancy project.
- Develop your understanding of some of the key regulations, frameworks, and skills being sought by sustainability focussed employers.
- Foster knowledge and skills related to project development and management.
- Foster the development of employability skills with bespoke support from specialist career advisors.
- Promote critical reflection about the practicalities of sustainability in practice.
- Foster confidence in communication and networking skills.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Articulate and evaluate key frameworks and practices that impact sustainability focussed business, enterprise, consultancy, and development settings.
- 2. Gain work experience within a sustainability focussed setting.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Develop an understanding of how academic debates in global sustainability solutions translate into practical approaches to environmental and social transformation.
- 4. Identify and reflect upon applied pathways for employing sustainability theories in workplace settings.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Communicate complex ideas, regulatory frameworks, and practical applications of sustainability tools.
- 6. Develop employability skills to support future job applications.
Syllabus plan
Term 1 (Weeks 1-11)
Week 1: Module welcome and introduction
Weeks 5, 7, 9: Guest seminars
(Completion of online ‘Sustainability in Practice’ programme by end of term)
Term 2 (Weeks 1 – 11)
Weeks 3, 5: Guest seminars.
Week 7: Optional one-to-one assessment meetings.
Term 3
Week 1-6: Work placement*.
*Work placement can start anytime but must be completed by the end of week 6 of term 3.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 33 | 105 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 12 | Lecture and guest seminars: In class |
| Placement | 105 | Full-time or part-time work placement 3 weeks FTE |
| Guided Independent Study | 33 | Sustainability in Practice online program and summative assessment |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Successful completion of the online program | 12 hours independent online engagement | 1,3,4 | Successful completion of self-directed online activities is to be completed by the end of term 1 for discussion in class |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective report on work placement | 100 | 4000 words | 1-6 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective report on work placement | Reflective report on work placement | 1-6 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
If you are unable to engage with the work placement or module assessments for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will be assessed via the following assessments, to be submitted for the referral/deferral period:
• A 4000 reflective essay on skills and debates for sustainability in practice
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.
If you fail the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%), you will be required to submit a 4000 word reflective report on your work placement. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 50%.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
https://carbonliteracy.com/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 13/06/2023 |
| Last revision date | 08/05/2024 |
