Sustainability Governance and Leadership

Subject MULT90004 (2014)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2014.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

Intensive.


For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Six days of classes (from approximately 9am to 5pm).
Total Time Commitment:

Total Time Commitment: Approximately 120 hours comprising time in class, preparation and assessments. The subject is taught over six Fridays (9am – 5pm) at the beginning of each semester.

Prerequisites:

None.

Corequisites:

None.

Recommended Background Knowledge:

N/A

Non Allowed Subjects:

None.

Core Participation Requirements:

The Melbourne School of Land and Environment (MSLE) welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and School policy to take reasonable steps to make reasonable adjustments so as to enable the student’s participation in the School’s programs. MSLE contributes to the New Generation degrees and offers a broad range of programs across undergraduate and post-graduate levels many of which adopt a multi-disciplinary approach.

Students of the School’s courses must possess intellectual, ethical, and emotional capabilities required to participate in the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the School. Candidates must have abilities and skills in observation; motor in relevant areas; communication; in conceptual, integrative, and quantitative dimensions; and in behavioural and social dimensions.

Adjustments can be provided to minimise the impact of a disability, however students need to be able to participate in the program in an independent manner and with regard to their safety and the safety of others.

I. Observation: In some contexts, the student must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic and applied sciences. More broadly, observation requires reading text, diagrams, maps, drawings and numerical data. The candidate should be able to observe details at a number of scales and record useful observations in discipline dependant contexts.

II. Communication: A candidate should be able to communicate with fellow students, professional and academic staff, members of relevant professions and the public. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing.

III. Motor: Candidates should have sufficient motor function necessary for participation in the inherent discipline-related activities. The practical work, design work, field work, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, require varying motor movement abilities. Off campus investigations may include visits to construction sites, urban, rural and/or remote environments.

IV. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, and synthesis. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of professionals in land and environment industries, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the candidate should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.

V. Behavioural and Social Attributes: A candidate must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

Students who feel their disability will prevent them from meeting the above academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit.

Contact

Office for Environmental Programs
Ground Floor, Walter Boas Building (building 163)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject provides an introduction and critical appraisal of different disciplinary approaches to environmental sustainability; and recurring management issues, including the implementation of tools, techniques and strategies for achieving environmental sustainability. It also raises some major challenges to sustainability, as a concept and as a policy, across a range of scales and sectors and their implications for environmental governance and leadership. Subject classes and materials will address a range of themes, including: contemporary environmental challenges; sustainability principles; environmental flows; cities and sustainability; environmental governance and leadership – theory and practice.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this subject, students will have developed a critical and multi-disciplinary understanding of the conceptual and practical dimensions of sustainability as they apply to a range of different scales and contexts. They will have extended their skills of analysis, interpretation, communication, collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making appropriate to the field of environmental sustainability.

Assessment:
  • An individual essay of about 1,000 words due shortly after the third day of classes (15%),
  • a group report with a combined total of about 3,000 words due shortly after the sixth day of classes (35%),
  • and an individual research essay of about 3,500 words due before the end of semester (50%).
Prescribed Texts:

Subject readings will be available for students.

Recommended Texts:

N/A

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • Independent research on topics relevant to the subject
  • Participate successfully in group work
  • Further develop their critical thinking though readings, class discussions, collaboration and assessment
  • Further develop analytical approaches to sustainability and environmental management
Links to further information: http://www.environment.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Course(s): Master of Design (Urban Design)
Master of Urban Design
Master of Urban Planning
Postgraduate Certificate in Environment
Postgraduate Diploma in Environment
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Climate Change
Climate Change
Conservation and Restoration
Conservation and Restoration
Development
Development
Education
Education
Energy Efficiency Modelling and Implementation
Energy Efficiency Modelling and Implementation
Energy Studies
Energy Studies
Environmental Science
Environmental Science
Governance, Policy and Communication
Governance, Policy and Communication
Integrated Water Catchment Management
Integrated Water Catchment Management
Public Health
Public Health
Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions
Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Regions
Sustainable Forests
Sustainable Forests
Tailored Specialisation
Tailored Specialisation
Waste Management
Waste Management

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