| Unit name | Sustainable Systems |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CADEM0003 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Carhart |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Why is this unit important?
It is widely and increasingly recognised that understanding and managing sustainability requires acknowledgement and appreciation for the interdependent dynamic complexity of the social, political, environmental, economic and technical systems within which we live. This requires a way of thinking about things as if they are (and are part of) systems; this complements approaches that focus on details in isolation from their contextual complexity.
Understanding the needs and requirements of individuals, communities and ecosystems with which we work allows us to deliver more effective, efficient and sustainable solutions. This requires approaches to engineering that allow us to appropriately gather these requirements and understand how they are satisfied by the integration of systems and sub-systems.
This unit provides both the ways of thinking (Systems Thinking) that help navigate complexity and the practical engineering skills (Systems Engineering) that help define problems and architect sustainable solutions which can then be designed in detail.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
By providing an overview and appreciation of the complex, wicked and messy challenges associated with creating sustainable systems this unit provides the ‘big picture’ context for the detailed of ‘Sustainable Design covered in a unit which follows as part of the Sustainable Engineering MSc.
An overview of content
The unit will provide an overview of the grand challenges of sustainability and the choices faced by engineers. It will cover definitions of sustainability, legal and regulatory requirements, alongside current best practice and understanding within academia and practice. Examples of sustainable systems will be explored alongside concepts of circularity and regenerative design. Frameworks for conceptualising sustainability will be discussed alongside systems approaches. Problem structuring methods for wicked and messy problems will be critiqued. The unit will allow students to explore, develop and apply Architecture Frameworks in the service of improving sustainability, including requirements capture and lifecycle analysis.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
As a result of this unit students will:
Learning Outcomes
The unit will have a blended learning approach incorporating a combination of synchronous and asynchronous lectures, guest lectures and practical classes, as well as self-directed study and research. Space will be created for supported group work, but additional group work will need to be carried out outside the classroom.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Sessions throughout the unit will take the form of workshops where taught concepts can be applied and feedback provided.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A single individual report which will define and apply a high-level architecture framework for a complex system in order to design a measurement regime for assessing its sustainability and make recommendations for sustainability improvement actions that could be the focus of further detailed designs (ILOs 1-4). The detailed design itself is beyond the scope of the assessment for this unit.
When assessment does not go to plan
A repeat of the above, applied to a different system of interest.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CADEM0003).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
