Student study time
Overall, the module is expected to involve students in approximately 200 hours of learning: 12 5-hour lectures; 58 hours assignments; 78 hours private study; 4-hour examination.
Aims
This module aims to provide an applicable knowledge of classical and contemporary problems in the water and environmental policy making for the practising engineer. It provides a basic knowledge of the main social processes and EU legislation. It offers gaining practical experience how to recognise stakeholder interests and how to involve stakeholders and publics in decision making process.
Learning outcomes
1. Subject Specific Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
By the end of this module, the students should:
- have acquired an understanding of policymaking process and how to incorporate technical solution in social environment;
- be able to take active participation in decision making process;
- be able to estimate level of social support of particular solution;
- have acquired a basic understanding of social processes and estimate social capital;
- understand the role of legislation and public participation in decision making process;
- be able to participate in multidisciplinary discussion.
2. Core Academic Skills
By the end of this module, the students should:
- be able to identify, formulate and analyse a management problem in a given society;
- be able to critically assess research results;
- have acquired some practical experience of using Social impact Analysis – SIA;
- have acquired an understanding of the impact of solutions for civil engineering works in a global and societal context.
3. Personal and Key Skills
By the end of this module, the students should have:
- improved further the necessary skills for independent learning;
- enhanced report and presentation skills;
- acquired an ability to function in multi- disciplinary teams.
Learning methods
Lectures, problem sheets, tutorials.
Assignments
One assessed coursework assignment (4,000 equivalent words including graphs and tables).
Problem sheets and computer based problem solving.
Assessment
Examination paper (60%), Course work (40%)
3-hour examination, closed note and closed book.
1 assignment on practical application of modelling tools/wastewater treatment facilities design (40%, 4,000 equivalent words, including graphs and tables).
Syllabus
- Introduction to Environmental Legislation
- Legitimization problems in water management and environment protection: Reflexivity and Complexity
- Legitimization problems in water management and environment protection, Part II
- “Risk Society”
- Sustainability: the new developmental paradigm
- Public opinion, participation, social capital
- Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
- Principles of Communicative Rationality
- Common, institutional and personal interests in water policy
- Waste water treatment infrastructure design and NIMBY syndrome
Core reading
- Becker, Henk (1997) Social Impact Assessment. UCL Press, London .
- Harper L. Charles (2004) Environment and Society – human perspective on environment issues. Pearson, New Yersey.
Further reading
- Irwin; Lewis G. (2003) The Policy Analyst's Handbook: Rational Problem Solving in a Political World. M.E. Sharp Inc., New York .
- Public Participation in Making Local Environment Decisions, (2000) The Aarhus Convention Newcastle Workshop. London : Good Practice Handbook, Department of the Environment.
- Redclift M. and Woodgate G., 1997, The International Handbook of Environmental Sociology. Edward Elgar.
- Linstone H.A. (1984), Multiple perspectives for decision making – Bridging gap between analysis and action, pp 1-422, North-Holland, New York, Amsterdam, Oxford.
- Lyons Murphy (1997), The Danube a river basin in Transition, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dodrecht, Boston, London pp 1-272.