MSc Sustainable Business, Environment and Society (Dual Degree) 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 (Dual Degree)
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024			Award type			MSc (Dual Degree)
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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	This dual degree offering is a joined education programme in partnership with the University of Maastricht School of Business and Economics. Dual degree students will complete one semester of teaching at the University of Maastricht and one semester of teaching at the University of York - and may complete their dissertation at either institution, subject to Visa restrictions.
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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 and Dual Degree Agreement
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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	Students in this program are expected to meet University award regulations from both institutions.
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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:	NO				Transfers out:	NO
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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. Business is an important agent for change towards sustainability. It can be the start of innovation and lead to solutions for pressing problems of our time. 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. This degree is split between the universities of Maastricht and York. You'll spend semester one studying at Maastricht in the Netherlands and semester two studying in York. By studying for a dual degree, you'll get to experience life in another country, exposure to a different culture, and access to expertise in two internationally-recognised universities. During the course, you'll learn how to lead sustainability initiatives in a business setting. You'll develop the skills to work with local communities and gain expertise in independent and critical thinking. With opportunities to work with external organisations, you'll apply your skills to real-world problems. On graduation, you'll be well-placed for roles in internationally oriented companies, public institutions and organisations that strive for sustainability.
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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.				At least 41 ECTS from a combination of the taught modules and thesis. Semester 1: include no more than 20 ECTS, at least 10 of which to include the core modules (Sustainable Development; Sustainability Science). Semester 2 + 3: 21 ECTS with a requirement for 7 ECTS core modules (Group Sustainability Project) and the remaining 14 ECTS from any other taught modules at York or the Thesis / Dissertation.
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 4 and 5 will have not had the opportunity for significant further progression through an indepenent research project.				At least 24 ECTS from a combination of the taught modules. Semester 1: Up to 10 ECTS from any core module. An exception is PBL and academic skills (1 ECTS) Semester 2: At least 14 ECTS from any of the core or optional modules
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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 suppoprt, 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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