Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Circular Economy Leadership for the Built Environment

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Organisation profile

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is one of the largest multi-campus universities on the island, serving a diverse group of learners, staff, communities and organisations from our region and further afield.

Training aim

The Postgraduate Diploma in Circular Economy Leadership for the Built Environment is a postgraduate programme that will directly respond to a significant gap in national and international educational provision related to embedding circular economy principles across the built environment value chain. The programme will provide a flexible, multi-disciplinary and industry-focused programme that will empower graduates to lead the transition towards a decarbonised and circular built environment.

Learning objectives

Module 1: Circular Economy Principles for the Built Environment

1. Demonstrate an ability to critically explore the complexities of sustainability issues within the built environment, the associated environmental impacts, and the need for leadership.

2. Employ systems thinking to critically evaluate circular economy principles that apply within a built environment context.

3. Critically evaluate and analyse the application and impact of planning and client-led circular economy interventions across the built environment value chain.

4. Critically evaluate and analyse the application and impact of design-led circular economy interventions at different scales across the built environment value chain.

5. Critically assess and evaluate the role of value chain stakeholders in the implementation of circular economy principles during the pre- construction planning and construction phases.

6. Employ foresight thinking to explore how the reconceptualisation of waste as a resource can be applied at community and city-wide scales.

Module 2: Circular Economy Leadership and Organisational Transitions

1. Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate and assess leadership, organisational change and transition management best practice related to sustainability to inform circular economy leadership at different scales across the built environment value chain.

2. Map and critically assess the level of circular economy maturity within an organisation and their associated value chain.

3. Employ systems and futures thinking to develop an organisational circular economy vision and strategy.

4. Critically evaluate and analyse potential circularity interventions across the value chain at different scales.

5. Prepare and present a business case for organisational circular economy transitions across the value chain.

6. Demonstrate an ability to reflect on and frame ongoing professional development and personalised learning pathways to develop circular economy leadership qualities.

Module 3:  Applied Circular Built Environment Work-Based Research Project

1. Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate evolving applied work-based research paradigms, methodologies, and methods, which are applicable within a built environment setting.

2. Evaluate and critically assess the applicability of built environment and circular economy research strategies and frameworks at different scales across the value chain.

3. Critically examine the feasibility and applicability of emerging concepts of communities of practice and learning organisations within a built environment and circular economy context.

4. Prepare a project-based and/or organisational applied work-based research plan of work that will set out the: aims and objectives; selected methodology; implementation and benchmarking framework; and critical reflection milestones.

5. Undertake a detailed and focused applied research study within a workplace context that will critically evaluate and examine the design, development, and piloting of circular economy interventions.

6. Critically evaluate different communication tools to translate and present applied work-based research findings to different audiences.

Course outline

This programme has been developed in close collaboration with construction industry professionals to provide a flexible, multidisciplinary and industry-focused programme that seeks to address the current competency and skills gap in the construction sector both nationally and in a global context.

The programme is designed to embrace experiential and collaborative learning opportunities by continuously embedding evolving circular economy best practice through an academic-industry reciprocal learning framework. The construction sector is currently undergoing a significant transformation, catalysed by EU and national policy and strategy drivers, which are challenging stakeholders to review their business models and working practices to move beyond traditional linear processes and lead the transition towards preventative and more restorative circular processes of reuse, recycling and disassembly that will stimulate growth and improve competitiveness.

This Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in Circular Economy Leadership for the Built Environment has been developed in close collaboration with construction industry professionals to provide a flexible, multidisciplinary and industry-focused programme that seeks to address the current competency and skills gap in the construction sector both nationally and in a global context.

 

Participants on the course will discover a focused set of mandatory modules that cover all stages in the design-construction-operation and end-of-life process, that will address the competency, capability and skills requirements of the multiple supply chain stakeholders.

Trainer's profile

Dr. Mark Kelly

Academic Qualifications:

• B.Sc (Hons) in Construction Management and Technology

• M.A. in Academic Practice

• M.Sc (Research)

• National Diploma in Construction Management

• PhD

• Teaching and Learning

Professional Body Membership:

• Irish Passive House Association - Qualified Passive House Consultant

• Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM) - Member

Dr John Scahill

Lecturing/Teaching Experience:

 2021-present, Lecturer Department of Building and Civil Engineering

 2008-2021, Lecturer Department of Business Humanities and Technology

Lecturer and programme coordinator on Architectural Technology, Sustainable Building Technology and Climate Resilience for Business programmes.

Relevant Work Experience:

 DASBE project Manager GMIT (2021-present)

 Partner, McGann Scahill Architects and Environmental Engineers (2002-2008)

• Principal John Scahill Associates (Chartered Building Services and Environmental Engineers) 2000 to present.

Academic Qualifications:

 PhD Sustainability in Higher Education (Lancaster 2022)

 PG Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (NUIG 2011)

 PG Diploma Environmental Engineering (TCD 2007)

 M.Sc Building Services Engineering (Brunel 2006)

• B.Sc (Hons) Biotechnology (DCU 1988)

Professional Body Membership:

 Ordinary member Engineers Ireland 2000

 Chartered member of Engineers Ireland 2014

 Previously held full membership of ASHRAE and the IEEE

Shane Newell

Lecturing/Teaching Experience

• September 2007 - April 2022 - Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

• April 2022- Present - Atlantic Technological University (Galway City)

Relevant Work Experience

• January 2002 - September 2007 - Coyle Kennedy Consulting Engineers - Senior Engineer

• September 2000 - September 2001 - Irish Cement Ltd - Technical Advisory Engineer

• September 1999 - September 2000 - PJ Walls Ltd - Site Engineer

• Jun1997 - October 1998 - HGL O'Connor & Co - Structural Engineer

Academic Qualifications

• 1997 - B.E. Civil Engineering - N.U.I. Galway

• 2000 - M.Eng. Sc - N.U.I. Galway

• 2020 - Ph.D. - N.U.I. Galway

Professional Body Membership

• Engineers Ireland - Chartered Engineer (CENG MIEI)

• Institution of Structural Engineers - Chartered Structural Engineer (MIStructE)

• Civil Engineering Research Association of Ireland (CERAI) - Scientific Committee Member and Co-Treasurer (2014-16)

• Irish Concrete Society - Member

Dr Martin Taggart

Lecturing/Teaching Experience: 2007 -

• Present, Lecturer Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Department of Building and Civil Engineering and Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

• 1984 - 1987 Lecturer, Part-Time, Hammersmith and West London College, London

Relevant Work Experience:

• 1979-1987 - John Laing Construction Group, Project Manager

• 1987 - 1995 - Managing Director, TCL Management Services Limited, Project Management Consultant

• 1995 - 1997 - Managing Director, Taggart Contracts Limited, Contracting Organisation

• 1997 - 1999 - Michael Mc Namara Contractors, Project Manager

• 2000 - 2007 - Deputy Building and Estates Manager, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

Academic Qualifications:

• PhD - Project Management in Construction - University of Huddersfield

• MSc - Project Management - University of Salford

• BBus (Hons) Business - Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

• CIOB - Part 1,2,3 Professional Exams

Professional Body Membership: 

• Fellow and Chartered Construction (FCIOB) Chartered Institute of Building

• Fellow and Chartered Building Engineer (FCABE C Build E)

• Chartered Association of Building Engineers

• Licentiateship of the City and Guilds of London Institute

Course duration

5 semesters

Assessment & certification

The programme assessment strategy is contextualised to the purpose of the programme, the discipline, the student cohort, and the learning environment. It constructively aligns with the programme and individual module learning outcomes and aims to demonstrate that the learners have achieved these. The purpose of the assessment strategy is to immerse the student in the practical application of circular economy principles across the whole built environment value chain. Each assessment element scaffolds the subsequent elements within each module within a 100% continuous assessment framework. This directly aligns with the teaching and learning strategy and will ensure a robust iterative feedback cycle between staff and students.

Who should attend

Candidates must hold a cognate level 8 Bachelor (Hons) degree with a minimum grade classification of H2.2 or equivalent e.g. Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architectural Technology, Architecture, Construction Economics and Surveying etc. Candidates who do not meet the H2.2 performance standard in a Level 8 award will be required to pass a qualifying assignment at an H2.2 performance standard as established by the Programme Board for the programme in question and as approved by the Registrar. English Language Requirements will be as determined by ATY and as published in the Access, Transfer and Progression code. The current requirements are as follows:

Non-EU  applicants who are not English speakers must have a minimum score of 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent.   All results must have been achieved within 2 years of application to GMIT.

EU applicants who are not English speakers are recommended to have a minimum score of 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each component) in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or equivalent.

Further details on English language requirements are available at http://www.gmit.ie/international/english-language-requirements-0

Applications for this programme are made directly to the Institute.  

In addition, ATU is committed to the principles of transparency, equity and fairness in recognition of prior learning (RPL) and to the principle of valuing all learning regardless of the mode or place of its acquisition. Recognition of Prior Learning may be used to: (i) gain access or advanced entry to a programme at Stage 2 or higher, subject to available places (ii) gain credits and exemptions from programme modules after admission (iii) in award years RPL will be considered, to a 50%   maximum (30 credits) Academic Code of Practice No. 6 outlines the policies and procedures for the Recognition of Prior Learning. Guidance for applicants is provided on myexperience.ie

Website

https://www.gmit.ie/postgraduate-diploma-in-science-in-circular-economy-leadership-for-the-built-environment