MSc Sustainable Business, Environment and Society Programme Specification 2024-25.xlsx

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MSc Sustainable Business, Environment and Society
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024			Award type			MSc
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9	What level is this qualification?			Level 7			Length of programme			1 Year
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full Time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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15	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Environment and Geography
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17	Lead department			Environment and Geography			Other contributing departments			N/A
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19	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			Campus-based
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
25	N/A
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27	Reference points
28	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
29	University's Frameworks for Programme Design
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31	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
32	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
33	N/A
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35	Exceptions to Regulations
36	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
37	N/A
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39	Internal Transfers
40	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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42		Transfers in:	YES. Transfers cannot be guaranteed, and are dependent on timing and the academic requirements and space availability on the new programme. If any student is considering transferring, they need to speak to their supervisor as soon as possible.				Transfers out:	YES. Transfers cannot be guaranteed, and are dependent on timing and the academic requirements and space availability on the new programme. If any student is considering transferring, they need to speak to their supervisor as soon as possible.
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45	Statement of Purpose
46	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
47	The planet is currently facing unprecedented social, economic and environmental challenges. It is clear that 'business as usual' is no longer an option if we want to move onto a more sustainable and resilient path. Business is an important agent for change towards sustainability. It is clear that the role of business needs to change from being the origin of sustainability problems to the initiator and leader of sustainability innovations and solutions in order to help facilitate a sustainable and just future. The programme has been developed to ensure graduates are equipped to meet a growing demand for employees and researchers who can successfully take on the challenge of leading sustainability initiatives in a business setting and work with societal actors, local communities and the government to achieve positive societal and environmental outcomes. The concepts of sustainability, management, leadership and innovation have been integrated and are aligned across the curriculum to prepare prospective graduates to respond adequately to sustainability issues: through introducing the breadth of innovation options for sustainability; and through building the skills to develop leadership responses in an existing company setting or new venture to introduce such innovations. Students will also be equipped with the theories, tools and methods to manage the internal and stakeholder processes, risks and opportunities associated with change for sustainability. Students will be introduced to concepts such as weak and strong sustainability, sustainable development and mechanisms to more radical transformation in absence of a direct business case. They will also be taught organisational and justice (social, environmental) theories, the role of business and its functions and change management. Importantly, the programme will also equip students with a knowledge and appreciation of the scientific principles behind key environmental, economic and social sustainability challenges and apply methodology for sustainability assessment as well as the need for a just future. This will ensure graduates will be able to make informed decisions regarding sustainability priorities and solutions to maximise societal and environmental benefits. The programme provides opportunities for students to mobilise their skills and knowledge to tackle real-world problems in group and independent projects linked to business partners whilst problem-based learning (PBL) and research-led approaches to teaching will ensure graduates develop strong skills in independent and critical thinking. The UN Sustainable Development Goals highlight the importance of global partnerships in moving towards a more sustainable future.
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55	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
56	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
57	Postgraduate Diploma			NO	The student will have worked towards acheiving the majority of the PLOs through the taught element of the programme. However, development towards programme learning outcomes 7 and 8 will have not had the opportunity for significant further progression through an indepenent research project.				Successfully passing the taught component of the degree programme. Therefore, successfully completeing 120 credits from the module diet except for the ISM.
58	Postgraduate Certificate			NO	The student will have acheived nearly half of the PLOs through the taught element of the programme. Development towards programme learning outcomes 7 and 8 will have not had the opportunity for significant further progression through an indepenent research project.				Completing any 60 credits of the taught components of the degree programme.
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60	Programme Learning Outcomes
61	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
62	1	Discuss the scientific principles which underlie sustainability problems, and critically assess and debate their solutions in the context of business, and other civil society organisations
63	2	Apply knowledge across disciplinary boundaries to analyse sustainability from a systemic perspective which includes, but is not limited to ecological, political, social and economic considerations
64	3	Design change management and innovation strategies to assess, improve and monitor the sustainability of an organisation
65	4	Understand the systemic nature of complex challenges and create transformative, resilient and inclusive solutions that support, and are appropriate to the scale of the challenge of building liveable and just futures
66	5	Communicate effectively and professionally across disciplines for specialist and non-specialist audiences using written, oral and digital media
67	6	Collaborate effectively and professionally within and across organisations to foster a community-oriented mindset and develop partnerships
68	7	Select and apply appropriate methodologies for sustainability assessment for complex real world sustainable development issues
69	8	Competently gather, synthesise and analyse data from various sources through quantitative and /or qualitative methods
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71	Diverse entry routes
72	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
73	We support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme through support from pastoral supervisors who direct students to additional sources of advice and help over and above the academic skills embedded into the design of our programmes. This includes our Skills Hub, an online resource that provides a wealth of guidance and support, including video tutorials, that students can use to further build their skills and knowledge.
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82	Inclusion
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84	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.										TRUE
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86	Employability
87	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
88	The programme outcomes capture key employability skills that graduates of a Sustainable Business, Environment, and Society postgraduate degree can be asked to demonstrate when applying for successful and rewarding careers in a range of fields of work. By providing a clear pathway towards achieving these learning outcomes, and plentiful opportunities to use and practice these skills, e.g. via real world assessments, through our programme students will be able to draw out specific examples of work that they have undertaken to evidence their accomplishments to potential future employers. We have embedded an explicit set of employability principles in our programme which both ensures, and reflects, our commitment to developing students' employability. Further, a feature of this programme is that it offers students the option of undertaking a dissertation with an external organisation.
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92	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
93	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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95	Year abroad			FALSE		Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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97	Year in industry			FALSE		Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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99	Year in enterprise			FALSE
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