The purpose of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to explore climate change, associated environmental and sustainability issues and actual and potential management responses within the context of a culture and society that they are less familiar with. International field locations will be chosen that lend themselves to the exploration of a range of issues, impacts and management strategies associated with climate change and sustainable development. Examples of issues that could be explored during the field course include: impacts of a changing climate on the local environment and local communities; climate risks, vulnerability and environmental justice; climate resilient urban/community regeneration; the role of green infrastructure and ecosystem services in climate change adaptation and mitigation; tourism management and climate change; the role of energy and transport policies in climate change mitigation; climate change education and communication. Whilst the location and therefore, themes may vary between different field class locations all will be focused on student-centred learning in which students will contribute to the development and execution of small group research investigations / projects. The identification and exploration of themes relevant to the field or study location and the development of the group projects will be a product of interactive discussion between students and tutors.

1. Students are required to complete and submit the 1000-word profile before the field course itself, as the process of researching for, and producing, this assessment will enable them to develop an appreciation of the sustainability and climate change issues and associated management responses for the field location (Learning Outcomes 1, 4, )].

2. Working in small groups, students will then use this information to identify a suitable topic for a field or location-based investigation, collaboratively plan and carry out the investigation. They will then individually produce a field report that presents and discusses the findings of their field or location-based investigation (Learning Outcomes 2 – 6).

Formative assessment opportunities are available throughout the module - structured class activities will allow students to discuss ideas introduced in the module and relate them to the module assessments providing them with the opportunity to self-evaluate their understanding of module materials. Students will also be provided with the opportunity to discuss their ideas for the module assignments and receive feedback on their plans.

The module will combine a period of fieldwork of between 5 to 7 days in length (a nominal allocation of 35 hours) during which students will participate in a series of both tutor-led and student-led activities. The fieldwork will be supported by a series of staff-led preparatory and follow-up sessions (20 hours).

Alternative virtual and desk-based activities will be made available for students unable to complete the field activities.

The remaining 145 hours will be used for individual / group work to research, design and write-up coursework assessments (25 hours to research and produce the location profile; 35 hours to plan the group project and 85 hours to collate and analyse the fieldwork observations and produce the fieldwork report). This will lead to a critical understanding of the process of designing, preparing for and executing field or location-based research.

Use will be made of collaborative tools such as MS Teams or Blackboard Collaborate to facilitate the collaborative elements of this module and maximise opportunities for students to meet to discuss the planning and implementation of their field / location-based project. Their use will also enable students unable to attend the field-course to participate in discussions relating to the completion of the student projects.

Module Learning Outcome
1. Critically discuss the complexity of sustainability and climate change issues, impacts and management responses associated with the field or study location.

University Learning Outcome
Enquiry Knowledge and Understanding

Module Learning Outcome
2. Design, manage and execute a field or location-based research project that focuses on sustainability and climate change.

University Learning Outcome
Enquiry Problem Solving

Module Learning Outcome
3. Apply a range of analytical skills and knowledge acquired from all three levels of the award to specific sustainability and climate change topics.

University Learning Outcome
Analysis Application

Module Learning Outcome
4. Relate concepts and theory from the climate change and sustainable development literature to the field or study location.

University Learning Outcome
Application Reflection

Module Learning Outcome
5. Critically review chosen research strategies and associated outcomes.

University Learning Outcome
Learning Reflection

Module Learning Outcome
6. Communicate the purpose, results and research findings of the assessed activities to a high professional standard.

University Learning Outcome
Communication

VLE with virtual classroom facilities for accessing on-line learning and resources.
High quality teaching space for face-to-face class sessions, where appropriate, with usual audio-visual facilities.
Library resources, both online and physical, to support module activities and research for assignments.
Maps, aerial photographs, and field equipment appropriate to the field location and themes to be explored on the field course. Tablets or other appropriate mobile devices for the recording, collating, and analysis of observations in the field and accessing relevant information sources.

Data manipulation and Statistical Packages such as MS Excel and SPSSX
NVivo Software
Qualtrics
ArcGIS
Google Earth VR and access to the Virtual Reality IT Suite.

Bryman, A. (2015) Social Research Methods (5th Edition). PUP Oxford.

Gray, D. (2017) Doing Research in the Real World. Sage Publications.

Kanazawa, M. (2017) Research Methods for Environmental Studies. Routledge.

Lehman, S. (2015) Low Carbon Cities: Transforming Urban Systems. Routledge.

Robson, C.& McCartan, K. (2016) Real World Research (4th Edition) John Wiley & Sons.

None

The aim of the module is to provide students with the opportunity to further develop their fieldwork, observational and data-collection skills by through the exploration of a climate change, environmental or sustainability issue and associated management responses within the context of a culture and society that they are less familiar with. Examples of such themes include: the impacts of a changing climate on the local environment or local communities; climate risks, vulnerability and environmental justice; climate resilient urban/community regeneration; the role of green infrastructure and ecosystem services in climate change adaptation and mitigation; and the role of energy and transport policies in climate change mitigation. This module will be delivered using student-centred approach to learning which means that students will work in small groups to identify the theme that they wish to explore, develop and implement a field or location-based research project.