Programme Specification for the 2024/5 academic year
MSc Sustainable Business Management: Environment
1. Programme Details
| Programme name | MSc Sustainable Business Management: Environment | Programme code | PTS1SBESBECE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Study mode(s) | Part Time |
Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Campus(es) | Cornwall Campus |
NQF Level of the Final Award | 7 (Masters) |
2. Description of the Programme
There is growing public concern about climate change, degradation of natural landscapes and ecosystems, and the role that humans play in accelerating these changes. The rhetoric with which environmental challenges are discussed is increasing in its urgency and global sustainable development movements and their warnings, occupy a growing portion of the media. For the businesses of the future to be successful, they must play their part in driving solutions and adapting practices to the most pressing global challenges. Many top companies publish ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) reports and some countries have, or are developing, regulation which asks companies to assess their environmental impact and detail their mitigation strategies and Net Zero plans.
The MSc Sustainable Business Management will equip you with advanced business skills combined with an in-depth understanding of sustainability and the role of business in creating a sustainable future. You will draw on the sustainable business expertise of the Penryn Sustainable Futures department and have the opportunity to take modules from other disciplines such as geography (environment and climate change) and human health to develop a multidisciplinary approach to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSGDs). The programme will equip you with methodologies, tools and skills to design innovative sustainable solutions by engaging with the global sustainability context as well as opportunities to apply your knowledge in the Cornwall region. This will be achieved by providing students with opportunities to engage with local organizations and businesses through authentic assessments in different modules to gain and test a range of academic and practical skills aimed developing sustainability management leaders.
The MSc Sustainable Business Management (Environment) explores environmental themes alongside core business skills. The business world is increasingly looking toward the environment and nature, not just in terms of impact mitigation, but for innovative solutions and adaptive models. Students who choose the Environment pathway will also study Environmental Governance as a core topic and can choose between optional modules that focus on climate and marine or environment and human health themes. These areas of knowledge are particularly useful for graduates wishing to take up environmental advisory or consultancy roles within businesses.
3. Educational Aims of the Programme
The educational aims of the programme are to
- Equip you with transitioning skills, entrepreneurial proficiency and sustainability knowledge to become drivers of change within their organisation and/or create new businesses at the cutting edge of sustainable business practices
- Engage you with local projects and stakeholders to be immersed in the local community and explore first-hand the challenges and benefits of sustainable business models, tourism development and socially and environmentally conscious business approaches
- Provide an interdisciplinary learning experience in a stimulating and supportive environment by allowing you to study the most pressing sustainability problems and their solutions from a variety of disciplines (i.e., Climate change, policy and governance, environment and human health etc.)
- Develop a critical understanding of systems thinking and dynamics to understand complex social problems faced by organizations that deploy sustainable business management practices
- Apply and adapt ecological concepts to business and innovation strategies by engaging with methodologies and concepts such as Biomimicry, Circular Economy and Regeneration to emulate techniques and processes of nature to human design problems.
- Experiment with sustainable business management principles to real world scenarios by benefiting of research-led teaching combined with practical experiences such as field trips and project work.
- Design applied research projects to analyse the complexity of business’ sustainability performance in order to create innovative business models and institutional approaches to address sustainability issues.
4. Programme Structure
MSc Sustainable Business Management (Environment) is a one-year full-time programme of study at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 7 (as confirmed against the FHEQ).
5. Programme Modules
The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.
Details of the modules currently offered may be obtained from the College website:
MSc Sustainable Business Management: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/business/sustainable-business/
MSc Sustainable Business Management (Tourism): https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/business/sustainable-business-tourism/
MSc Sustainable Business Management (Environment): https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/business/sustainable-business-environment/
You may take optional modules as long as any necessary prerequisites have been satisfied, where the timetable allows and if you have not already taken the module in question or an equivalent module.
Stage 1
Compulsory Modules
135 credits of compulsory modules, 45 credits of optional modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEPM001 | Major Project | 45 | Yes |
| BEPM003 | Business Transformation Case Study | 15 | Yes |
| BEPM002 | Biomimicry and Circular Economy Design Principles | 15 | Yes |
| BEPM008 | Sustainable Business Management | 15 | No |
| BEPM009 | Strategic Innovation for Sustainable Business | 15 | No |
| BEPM010 | Circular Economy Management Consultancy Services | 15 | No |
| BEPM011 | Environmental Governance | 15 | No |
Optional Modules
| Code | Module | Credits | Non-condonable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEPM012 | Contemporary Tourism Industry | 15 | No |
| BEPM013 | Sustainable Tourism Management | 15 | No |
| GEOM407 | Perspectives on Sustainable Development | 15 | No |
| GEOM363B | Themes in Climate Change | 15 | No |
| GEOM418 | Marine and Coastal Social-ecological systems | 15 | No |
| HPDM029 | Nature, Health and Wellbeing | 15 | No |
| HPDM030 | Environmental Science and Population Health | 15 | No |
| HPDM183 | Global Public Health and Environmental Change | 15 | No |
| HPDM027 | Contemporary Environment and Human Health | 15 | No |
| GEOM247 | Transforming Energy Systems | 15 | No |
| LAWM184C | Climate Change Law | 15 | No |
| LAWM185C | Earth Law and Guardianship | 15 | No |
6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Explore key aspects sustainable business management grounded in systems thinking and complex social problems. | Lectures, seminars, discussion groups, oral presentations, exams field work, project work, independent reading and synthesis, independent research. | The ILOs will be assessed using a carefully considered student assessment combination including business reports, essay writing, presentations, project, proposals, field work assessments. |
Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Critically evaluate current research in the discipline to assess the role of business in sustainability problems. | See above | See above |
Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge
| Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) On successfully completing this programme you will be able to: | Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be... | |
|---|---|---|
| ...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class): | ...and evidenced by the following assessment methods: | |
1. Confident Communicator: Able to adapt and adjust both written and verbal communication styles, to meet the needs of diverse audiences. | See above | See above |
7. Programme Regulations
Classification
Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.
8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning
9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning
Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.
10. Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.
Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.
11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards
Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.
The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.
14. Awarding Institution
University of Exeter
15. Lead College / Teaching Institution
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)
16. Partner College / Institution
Partner College(s)
Not applicable to this programme
Partner Institution
Not applicable to this programme.
17. Programme Accredited / Validated by
0
18. Final Award
MSc Sustainable Business Management: Environment
19. UCAS Code
Not applicable to this programme.
20. NQF Level of Final Award
7 (Masters)
21. Credit
| CATS credits | 180 |
ECTS credits | 90 |
|---|
22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group
23. Dates
| Origin Date | 21/04/2023 |
Date of last revision | 06/09/2023 |
|---|
