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MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development

global challenges, engineering solutions
 
  • Dealing with complexity...through adopting a systems approach;
  • Dealing with uncertainty...when decision-making in the absence of complete information or evidence;
  • Dealing with change...by challenging orthodoxy and envisioning the future;
  • Dealing with other disciplines...through building multidisciplinary teams;
  • Dealing with people...through consultation processes and negotiation to meet society’s and individual’s needs;
  • Dealing with environmental limits...through seeking efficient resource use, ensuring pollution control and maintaining ecosystem services;
  • Dealing with whole-life costs....by considering environmental and social externalities and embracing life-cycle management and
  • Dealing with trade offs...by avoiding optimisation around a single variable or viewpoint to create solutions acceptable for all.

The MPhil programme identifies these key aspects are needed when approaching engineering problems from a sustainability perspective and indicates the methods and approaches used to develop the skills required.

Course Overview

Context

The need to engage in better problem definition through careful dialogue with all stakeholder groups and a proper recognition of context.

Perspectives

An ability to work with specialists from other disciplines and professional groups acknowledging that technical innovation and business skills also must be understood, nurtured and combined as precursors to the successful implementation of sustainable solutions.

Change

An understanding of mechanisms for managing change in organisations so future engineers are equipped to play a leadership role.

Tools

An awareness of a range of assessment frameworks, sustainability metrics and methodologies such as Life Cycle Analysis, Systems Dynamics, Multi-Criteria Decision making and Impact Assessment.