Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
Sustainable business practices are concerned with the actions businesses can take to promote positive environmental, social and good governance outcomes. These practices include managing inputs such as energy and water and outputs such as waste and carbon emissions. They also involve concepts of lean supply chain management, life cycle analysis methods and principles of circular economy. In addition to such operational issues, sustainable business practices also involves sustainable design and inclusive approaches to stakeholder engagement. Securing a license to operate is commonly an important desired outcome of sustainable business practice.
The course is structured around several aspects ofﾠsustainable business practice: (1) understanding drivers of sustainable practices in contemporary business including historical trends, recent developments and ideologies; (2) understanding key terms and concepts in sustainability including 'ESG or environmental, social and governance' issues,ﾠlicense to operate, corporate legitimacy, climate and nature risk, stakeholder engagement, diversity and inclusivity, and reporting and disclosure; (3) understanding how to use theﾠGlobal Reporting Initiative standard; (4) understanding the usefulness of the CERES Roadmap as a framework for organisingﾠsustainable business practice initiatives; (5) understanding the concept of materiality and how to apply it in sustainable business practices and climate risk analysis; (6) understanding how to estimate and monitor energy and water use inﾠorganisations,ﾠparticularly in the built environment, and how to evaluate options to reduce the use of such inputs, improve cost-efficiency and productivity; (7)ﾠunderstanding how to estimate and monitor waste and greenhouse gas emissions fromﾠorganisations, and how to evaluate options to reduce such outputs, improve cost-efficiency andﾠproductivity; (8) understanding principles of sustainable procurement, particularly in regards to concepts ofﾠfair-trade, international supply chainsﾠand relevant certification schemes; (9) understanding principles of lean supply chain management and circular economy and related useful analytical tools such as life cycle assessment; (10) understanding principles and practices of sustainable innovation and designing for sustainability; (11) understanding how human rights and social justice principles feature in sustainable business practice, particularly in regards to securing licenses to operate,ﾠeffective employee management and ethical engagement with stakeholders, notably vulnerable groups andﾠindigenous people (including with Australian First Nations' people through Reconciliation Plans); and (12) understanding the influence of the banking, insurance and investment sector onﾠsustainable business practice expectations and standards, with particular reference to climate and nature risk disclosures. ﾠ
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ENVM3525, ENVM4525
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Tutor
Mr Hadi Shabanpour
Ms Bushra Mushtaq
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
To enable students to competently and critically engage in, innovate and coordinate sustainable business practices.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate an understanding of the drivers of sustainable practices in contemporary business and key concepts in sustainability including principles of governance, corporate legitimacy, stakeholder engagement and disclosure.
LO2.
Demonstrate an understanding of key aspects of strategy, planning and reporting in sustainable business practice, including the Global Reporting Initiative, the CERES Roadmap, various relevant standards and certification schemes and how to apply the concept of Materiality.
LO3.
Demonstrate an understanding of how to estimate, monitor and manage inputs and outputs like water, energy, waste and emissions from organisations, products and services, particularly in the built environment.
LO4.
Demonstrate an understanding of principles of sustainable procurement, lean supply chain management and sustainable design.
LO5.
Demonstrate an understanding of how human rights and social justice principles feature in sustainable business practice, particularly in regards to securing licenses to operate, effective employee management and ethical engagement with stakeholders, notably vulnerable groups and indigenous people.
LO6.
Demonstrate an understanding of the influence of the banking, insurance and investment sector on sustainable business practice expectations and standards.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Case Study | 50% Individual | |
| Examination | Exam | 50% Individual |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
Assessment details
Case Study
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 50% Individual
Task description
Case Study Assessment ENVM7536 Semester 2 2023
Note: The assessment for ENVM7536 is different to ENVM4525. The assessment for ENVM7536 is set for Masters-level expectations and learning outcomes. Be sure to read the assignment instructions and criteria carefully. They differ from the assignment instructions and criteria used for ENVM4525 in numerous ways.
Contents
1. Preface
2. Task Instructions, Word Limit and Report Structure
3. Due Dates
4. Submission Method and Marking System
5. Formatting and Referencing Requirements
1. Preface
Many firms encapsulate their ‘Sustainable Business Practices’ and ‘Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)’ activities within their sustainability reporting initiatives. In this assignment you will examine the sustainability reports of a specified firm. The objective is for you to develop and demonstrate your understanding of how sustainability reporting initiatives guide how firms engage in sustainable business practice.
2. Task Instructions, Word Limit and Report Structure
- Each student will be assigned (via blackboard) a case study firm by the end of Week 1.
- Each student is required to complete the assignment on their assigned case study firm.
- No two students should complete the assignment on the same case study firm.
- Students who enrol after Week 1 or for whatever reason have not been assigned a case study firm by the end of Week 1, must email the course coordinator as soon as possible so they can be assigned a case study firm.
- Your task is to examine the sustainability reports of the case study firm and describe the ESG activities and sustainable business practices the firm has engaged in. To do this, you must follow the Report Structure outlined below and include the content listed in the Report Structure below for each relevant section.
- Case studies are a research method commonly used in environmental management. The format of case study analysis varies based on the research purpose and context. In this assignment, follow the Report Structure provided below. Case study analysis allows detailed examination and explanation of an interesting example of an important and often complex phenomenon. In this assignment, the interesting example is your case study firm, and the phenomenon is how the firm engages in sustainable business practice and sustainability reporting.
- The recommended word length for the assignment is 2500 words. This excludes the title, abstract, all figures and tables and their titles, footnotes, citations, and the reference list. There is no penalty for exceeding the recommended word limit.
- Your report must follow the Report Structure outlined below.
Section
Content
Word Length
Title
You can choose your own title. Good titles have meaning and give the reader insight into what the report is about. For example, ‘Assignment 1 ENVM4525’ has no meaning, but this one does; ‘A study of how ANZ includes climate change related issues in its Environmental, Social and Governance reporting initiatives’.
Submission guidelines
Students are required to submit an electronic copy of their assignment through Turnitin in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Exam
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50% Individual
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
Task description
Note: The assessment for ENVM7536 is different to ENVM4525. The assessment for ENVM7536 is set for Masters-level expectations and learning outcomes. Be sure to read the assignment instructions and criteria carefully. They differ from the assignment instructions and criteria used for ENVM4525 in numerous ways.
- The exam will cover all material covered in the course between Weeks 1 and 13.
- The exam will include a mix of multiple choice and short answer/essay questions.
- The exam will be marked out of 50.
- The exam is a closed-book exam centrally controlled and invigilated by UQ.
- The revision questions listed at the end of each week’s lecture notes will be useful revision.
- You must get a mark of 50% or higher in the exam (25/50 or greater) to pass the course (see Assessment Hurdle listed in the course profile).
- Referencing is not required in the exam, however, if you choose to cite references, please use Harvard referencing style.
- The exam will be an on-campus exam. Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams. Students enrolled in Internal delivery must attend the exam in person. In the event of disruption during the end of semester exam period that prevents the scheduled assessment occurring as planned, the assessment will be changed to a ProctorU exam. The timing of the assessment may also be impacted.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>1 - 24.4%</p> |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>24.5 - 44.4%</p> |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: <p>44.5-49.4% PERFORMANCE HURDLE: see Other Requirements and Comments below.</p> |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>49.5-64.4% PERFORMANCE HURDLE: see Other Requirements and Comments below.</p> |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>64.5-74.4% PERFORMANCE HURDLE: see Other Requirements and Comments below.</p> |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>74.5-84.4% PERFORMANCE HURDLE: see Other Requirements and Comments below.</p> |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: <p>84.5% and above PERFORMANCE HURDLE: see Other Requirements and Comments below.</p> |
Additional course grading information
PERFORMANCE HURDLE: Students are required to achieve a mark of 50% or greater in the Exam to pass the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
PERFORMANCE HURDLE: Students are required to achieve a mark of 50% or greater for the Examﾠto pass the course.
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing and submitting your assessment as soon as possible.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Turnitin
By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration “I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment.”
All students must ensure they receive their Turnitin receipt on submission of any assessments. A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing. Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after five days, will receive zero.
In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Lecture |
Week 1 Introduction, Course Overview, and Drivers of Sustainable Business Practice |
|
Lecture |
Week 2 ESG Reporting, the GRI Standard, and Materiality Assessment |
|
Lecture |
Week 3 ESG Case Studies - Telecommunications |
|
Lecture |
Week 4 - No Class Holiday |
|
Lecture |
Week 5 ESG Case Studies - Mining |
|
Lecture |
Week 6 Energy |
|
Lecture |
Week 7 Water |
|
Lecture |
Week 8 Waste |
|
Lecture |
Week 9 ESG Case Studies - Agribusiness and Food |
|
Lecture |
Mid-Semester Break Mid-semester break |
|
Lecture |
Week 11 Climate and Nature Risk Disclosure |
|
Lecture |
Week 12 Sustainable Procurement Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Lecture |
Week 13 ESG Case Studies - Workshop/Social Justice Principles in ESG, Course Wrap-up |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.