Sustainability Policy and Management

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Approximately 120 hours comprising time in class, preparation and assessments.

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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.

This subject provides an introduction and critical appraisal of different disciplinary approaches to environmental sustainability; the process of policy design and critique in this area; and recurring management issues, including the implementation of tools and techniques 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: introduction to sustainability, sustainability policy perspectives, sustainability in the city, sustainability beyond the city, and managing sustainability.

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.

An individual essay of about 1,000 words due shortly after the third day of classes (15%), a group report of about 3,000 words due shortly after the sixth day of classes (35%), and a individual research essay of about 3,500 words due at the end of semester (50%).

Subject readings will be available for students.

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• 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