Course Title: Developing and Evaluating Proposals for Sustainable Energy Systems

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Developing and Evaluating Proposals for Sustainable Energy Systems

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MIET2127

City Campus

Postgraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 2 2011

Course Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. John Andrews

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6085

Course Coordinator Email: john.andrews@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This course will provide a step-by-step procedure for developing proposals for deployment of sustainable energy systems for presenting to company boards, senior managers or governmental bodies, based on the knowledge and methodologies learnt in the earlier courses of the program. Triple bottom line evaluation will be integrated into all steps of the procedure from concept design to evaluation of impacts on implementation. In addition, there will be an opportunity to apply new participative processes such as ‘constructive technology assessment’ to involve interested social groups including users in the technology development process. Some case studies that illustrate the overall procedure will be presented

Students will be given the opportunity to develop a detailed proposal and brief for a sustainable energy research project that they can use as the basis of their major research project to be conducted in the subsequent course(s) forming the energy design project, or a proposal in another context. Students will use their earlier investigations and reports to prepare this proposal, which may, for example, be in the form of an application for a research grant, a business case (triple bottom line) to a private company to undertake a feasibility study or trial into a strategic sustainable energy initiative, or a proposal to government to investigate a new sustainable energy development. Students will present their proposal in a role play in one of the two final sessions of the course to an expert panel playing the role of a decision-making body. Hence students will have the chance to be the advocates of their proposal in a simulated real-life context. Students may opt to work as a team with other students in the development of their chosen proposal.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon completion of this course, students will be expected to be able to:
• Formulate a step-by-step plan for developing proposals for deployment of sustainable energy systems for presenting to company boards or senior managers or governmental bodies
• Integrate triple bottom line evaluation into all steps of the procedure from concept design to evaluation of impacts on implementation
• Incorporate in this procedure participative processes such as ‘constructive technology assessment’ to involve interested social groups including users in the technology development process.



Overview of Learning Activities

The educational philosophy of this course is based on the principles of adult learning. Students studying in internal mode will take part in a series of lectures, seminars, and workshops.

The principal learning activities will be:
• Lectures
• Presentations of case studies by external experts
• Formulation of a detailed a proposal and brief for an investigation into a new sustainable energy system that can be used in the student’s energy design project.
• Team and individual work to develop a proposal for an investigation into a sustainable energy solution for presenting to company boards or senior managers or governmental bodies
• Participation in role plays in which teams take it in turns to be the presenter to a board, or the board deciding on the proposal
• Individual and group consultations with the lecturer.



Overview of Learning Resources

Learning material will be available online. Students will be directed to other resources available in the Library or on the Internet. 
Students will be able to consult regularly with the lecturer.


Overview of Assessment

Presentations and written reports