Course Title: Environmental Auditing and Management

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Environmental Auditing and Management

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ENVI1108

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012

Course Coordinator: A/P Susanne Tepe

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2899

Course Coordinator Email: susanne.tepe@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 3:2:03

Course Coordinator Availability: Monday afternoons or by appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Students require a background in both environmental principles and risk management. Prerequisites are ENVI1008 The Natural Environment and BUSM1665 Risk Management or equivalent courses, or evidence of equivalent capabilities.


Course Description

in ENVI1108 Environmental Auditing & Management, you will examine the methods that industry uses to recognise environmental hazards and how they develop techniques to control their impacts.  It specifically examines:

  • how the environmental commitments by industry can be monitored and audited
  • how potential environmental impacts are described in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
  • how industry controls their environmental impacts through Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
  • how environmental management systems are audited
  • how waste is generated and controlled
  • other environmental management initiatives such as product life cycle analysis and sustainability programmes


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The aim of the course is to provide students with understanding and confidence with environmental management techniques and to understand their limitations.

At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:

  • understand the roles of EIA and EMS and recognise their technical and political components
  • apply the framework of EIA and EMS to situations of choice
  • recognise the value of other environmental management techniques such as LCA, waste controls and carbon trading


At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • recognise environmental impacts resulting from industrial activity
  • critically review an environmental management system
  • prepare and perform a simple environmental audit


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • attendance at lectures where syllabus material will be presented and explained with examples from industry
  • attendance at guest lectures presented by practioners in industry or government who are responsible for environmental management
  • attendance at tutorials designed to enhance environmental management skill
  • completion of an environmental audit of a functioning facility
  • private study integrating course materials and observed practice


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be provided with lists of relevant texts, library resources and freely accessible Internet sites in class.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course will be spread throughout the semester and utilise several different modes and includes:

  • planning and performing an environmental audit
  • keeping a learning journal related to guest lectures and the field trip
  • a exam