Professional/Short Course Sustainability in the Built Environment

Content

The first session will set the scene for the module (e.g. what we expect from students, our approach, academic integrity and assessment). The remainder of the session will examine the background and drivers for sustainable development. This will explore the development of the sustainability agenda, Corporate Social Responsibility, different conceptual models of sustainable development and the key trends in society that affect, and are affected by, the built environment.  

The second session will cover sustainable resource use. This will include the built environment as a system, climate change and energy, air quality, materials and waste, and water management. Each theme will include a summary of the key drivers and examples of how this is addressed in the built environment. 

The third session will examine sustainable urban neighbourhoods including urban form, transport, and social and green infrastructure. 

The fourth session will explore the delivery of sustainable development. This session will look at how sustainable built environments contribute to the local economy, valuation of sustainable developments, future infrastructure, meeting local need and the Global South.  

Finally, the fifth session will look at how we can assess sustainability. This session will focus on the role of the built environment in sustainable behaviours, performance issues with sustainable buildings in the commercial sector and accreditation methods focussing on BREAAM Communities. There will also be assessment tutorials. 

What will the course outcome be? 

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 

• Demonstrate they understand the concepts of sustainable development and how these relate to the built environment;  
• Articulate the key drivers and trends affecting the built environment and how these relate to the concepts of sustainable development;  
• Demonstrate their understanding of the different measures or features in the built environment that contribute to their sustainability at different spatial scales including infrastructure, neighbourhoods and buildings and their limitations;  
• Critique the mechanisms through which sustainable built environments are delivered including legislation and targets, and accreditation schemes;  
• Critique the current practices of built environment professionals in terms of sustainable development;  
• Utilise different forms of evidence from research and practice in the development of ideas.  

Learning and Teaching

This course will be delivered as on-campus seminars with resources available online to support your studies. You will have the flexibility to fit your studies around personal and professional commitments, with access to our learning resources any time. Studying while you work also provides valuable opportunities to apply what you have learned directly to your role.

Our comprehensive learning platform provides your entire course content, and puts you in contact with your tutor and fellow students.

Assessment

We assess your work through a variety of coursework assignments, including essays, reports, surveys and presentations. We also encourage you to do 'formative work' to prepare for assessment. This does not count towards final marks, but the feedback you receive helps improve your performance.

The assignment is based around one element: Report (maximum 3000 words, supplemented with a range of illustrative graphics, images, diagrams etc.) addressing guiding principles for the delivery of a sustainable brownfield development.