Corporate Environmental and Sustainability Management stream
Stream Coordinator: Dr. Wendy Stubbs
Tel: +61 3 9905 2915
Email: Wendy.Stubbs@Monash.edu
Office: w513, Building 11, Clayton Campus
Sustainability is core to business strategy and practice, creating both opportunities and risks. This stream is designed to meet the growing demand for suitably trained and skilled professionals to lead the transformation of organisations. It will equip you with essential insights and competency in designing, implementing and facilitating sustainability solutions for business. The complex mix of social, ecological and economic sustainability imperatives is the primary focus of this program. This program is available to people from a broad range of disciplines, professions and levels of experience
Structure: Core Knowledge Units and Electives
| Core Knowledge Units | Elective Themes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Perspectives on environment and sustainability
Defining 'Sustainability' and its historical development Disciplinary, interdisciplinary and other forms of knowledge Analysing worldviews, environmental values and stakeholder positions Alternative Sustainability frameworks |
Sustainability Regulation
Environmental law in Australia and its application to business and development International environmental obligations and corporations Common law rights Government responsibilities and emerging regulatory models Role and implications of economic incentives |
Corporate sustainability management
The 21st century business challenge Sustainable development drivers Markets and measures Mapping organisational competencies Organisational change models for practice Building the business case for sustainability |
Sustainability measurement
Corporate management accounting and reporting systems 'Hidden' costs associated with poor sustainability practices and inefficiencies Alternative methods for enhancing the transparency of corporate accounting practices Implications of sustainability issues for financial decision making |
Business and Management
Development Studies and Practice Economics and Environmental Economics Environmental Management and Thinking Legal Studies Public Policy and Management Research Methodology |
Core units
APG4425 - Perspectives on environment and sustainability
- discuss the changing state of the environment and perspectives on contemporary environmental issues
- identify the key stakeholders and relevant disciplines for addressing specific environmental management issues and explain their relative roles and modes of participation
- take a holistic approach to analysing environmental management issues
- explain the concept of sustainability giving due recognition to its many interpretations
- apply the principles of sustainability in given case study situations
- critique the concept of sustainability as a framework for environmental management and discuss alternative perspectives and concepts
- identify barriers to ‘sustainability' deriving from a broad range of administrative, legal, political, social and economic factors
BTX9100 - Sustainability Regulation
- a broad understanding of the nature of environmental problems facing the Australian community and the role of international organisations, government agencies, corporations and non-government organisations in the development of environmental policy
- a broad understanding of the various sources of environmental regulation in Australia, including the role of the common law, international agreements, relevant Federal and State government legislation and industry codes of practice
- appropriate research and legal analysis skills in environmental law, particularly the ability to locate and analyse the relevant statutes, case law, government reports and other key documents in this area
- an understanding of the practical implications from a business management perspective of contemporary environmental law issues
APG5433 - Corporate Sustainability Management
- explain leading-edge concepts and practice in the field of corporate sustainability management
- understand the range of social, economic, regulatory and physical environmental drivers for corporate sustainability
- strategically assess the sustainability challenges and opportunities for a given business sector
- prepare and effectively communicate a business case for sustainability for a given business;
- outline various conceptual frameworks and practical tools to apply sustainability assessment techniques in an organisational setting
- understand organizational change models for sustainability
APG5434 - Sustainability Measurement
- understand why effective measurement is critical in driving the sustainability agenda
- develop measurement strategies and approaches
- select the most appropriate measurement frameworks, tools and indicators for a given situation
- apply the different sustainability measurement, reporting and verification standards and guidelines
- critical insight into how leading organisations are measuring and reporting sustainability
Elective Themes
Students complete electives sufficient to bring the total number of points for the degree to 72 credit points. If required, electives may be chosen from level three offerings, but only to a maximum of 12 points. Students must assure that they complete a total of at least 24 points at level 5.
Core units from other streams may be taken as electives, with the exception of APG4427 Frontiers in sustainability and environment (available only to students in the Environment and Sustainability Stream) and APG5805 The art and business of international development (only for students of the International Development and Environmental Analysis stream).Electives may be chosen from across the University with permission from the stream coordinator and, if no equivalent unit is available at Monash, from other Universities. Suggested electives for the E&S stream can be drawn from the range of themes in the suggested list of electives.
Final Projects
In order to undertake a final project students must gain a distinction average (70D) or above in the core and elective units, and/or permission of the course coordinator. For students who have not attained a distinction average, additional coursework electives may be substituted.
Students electing to undertake a final project may only enrol in these units after consultation with the Stream Coordinator. For research projects, it is strongly recommended that students first complete a research methods subject (see Research Methodology stream in the list of electives).
The course offers two final project options: either a supervised research essay that enables students to consolidate the theoretical knowledge and analytical skills acquired in the coursework components in a research context; or an industry internship placement that provides students the opportunity to apply and consolidate the knowledge and professional skills they have acquired through the coursework components within the practical context of a business, government, nongovernmental or community organisation. Final projects consist of either a single 12-point final project unit or a combination of two of these units.
Final Project Units:
- APG5780 Conceptualising environment and sustainability research project (12 points)
- APG5781 Implementing environment and sustainability research project (12 points)
- APG5763 Sustainability internship (12 points)
Eligible students can also undertake a double (24 point) final project, consisting of either two 12-point research units:
- APG5780 Conceptualising environment and sustainability research project
- APG5781 Implementing environment and sustainability research project
or a combination of an internship and research unit:
- APG5763 Sustainability internship, and
- APG5781 Implementing environment and sustainability research project
These may be taken simultaneously in a single semester or in series over two consecutive semesters. Major 24-point final projects generally involve empirical data collection, and are therefore only available to students with a proven capacity to undertake primary research.