2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

TRAN5231M Global Issues in Transport

15 creditsClass Size: 36

Module manager: Astrid Guehnemann
Email: A.Guehnemann@its.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

Pre-requisite qualifications

Any student at this University on a programme with analytical contact will benefit from this module. Please contact the module team to discuss.

Module replaces

TRAN5230M

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module seeks to enable students to gain an understanding of the key global issues associated with transport and how to develop sustainable transport solutions. They will become familiar with the ways in which transport interacts with the environment and society and how the scale and effects of such impacts are unevenly distributed across the globe and society. The module considers key areas of impact and explores each in detail, giving the students the opportunity to specialise in one of the areas, whilst also developing breadth of knowledge. Key areas are e.g. the impacts of transport on climate, transport and biodiversity; energy security; resource use; waste and global pollution; equity, social impacts and inclusion; and developing country issues. The module will then challenge the students to develop visions of alternative futures with more sustainable transport systems and to consider the implications of such visions on society, lifestyles and environment. The module provides a foundation on which further work, for example thesis writing, in the area of global sustainability can be based.

Objectives

On completion of this module students should have developed an understanding of the key global issues associated with transport. They will become familiar with the ways in which transport interacts with the environment and society and how the scale and effects of such impacts are unevenly distributed across the globe and society.

The module gives the students the opportunity to develop research skills through in-depth study in one of the key areas of transport and sustainability, whilst also developing breadth of knowledge through the participation in seminars.

The module allows the students to consider alternative futures with more sustainable transport systems and to consider the implications of such changes on society and lifestyles. Distributional and ethical aspects are important elements to be considered.

The module will provide a foundation on which further work, for example thesis writing, in the area of global sustainability can be based

Learning outcomes
Students develop knowledge of the key impacts of transport across the globe that contribute to the lack of sustainability of our current transport system. Students will understand the significance of these impacts and measures which are and might be applied to address them, both now and in the future. They will consider what would characterise a more sustainable transport system and the changes that would be required to implement such a system. Students learn to consider global aspects of problems and specific requirements for solutions in different parts of the world (developing, emerging, developed countries).

Skills outcomes:

Students will develop critical analytical and research skills through assessing articles academic sources and more popular discourse on the impacts in the press. They will develop and apply academic writing and presentation skills through the coursework assignments. Students will learn how to conduct participatory planning approaches through organisation of visioning workshops. Students are required to work across interdisciplinary teams to prepare their presentations and visioning workshops, they need to practice presentation and writing skills for non-academic audiences and need to employ creative and critical thinking. Specific methodological competences are developed in the area of assessment methods and tools for participatory, strategic planning.

Skills outcomes
- Essay writing
- Develop and apply research/investigative skills
- Develop and apply scientific writing skills.

Syllabus

1. Introduction and methods for analysing global impacts from transport
2. Techniques for assessment of global transport impacts
3. Seminars on key global issues of transport and sustainability, such as
- Impacts of transport on climate change - scale, mitigation and adaptation
- Transport and biodiversity
- Energy security and resource use
- Waste and global pollution
- Equity, social impacts and inclusion
- Developing country issues
4. Introduction to visioning and participatory planning approaches
5. Workshops on visions and pathways towards sustainable transport futures in cities in different parts of the world

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	1	3.00	3.00
Preparation Class	1	3.00	3.00
Lecture	1	3.00	3.00
Lecture	7	1.00	7.00
Seminar	6	2.00	12.00
Private study hours			122.00
Total Contact hours			28.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

The students will be expected to prepare for each lecture and seminar by reading a number of key texts and to use this as the basis for discussions in group work in the seminars associated with each lecture.
The course assessment will involve two presentations and submission of two essays. The first seminar presentation and essay is chosen from a list of possible topics made available at the start of the module and focusses in detail on one of the key impacts.
The second workshop presentation and essay which will be cross-cutting on visions for a sustainable transport system in a city, drawing on knowledge gained from across the whole module. Students have a choice which city they want to investigate.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress is monitored in the following ways:
1. Formative feedback on class contributions and understanding of the issues will be provided in each of the seminars.
2. Feedback on the assessed presentations will be returned to students prior to their essay submission for both seminars and visioning workshops.
3. Summative feedback will be provided in the form of assessed essays.
4. The first coursework is returned prior to the submission of the second coursework

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words	40.00
Essay	2,000 words	40.00
Presentation	Oral presentation in seminar	10.00
Presentation	Oral presentation in workshop	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The resit will involve a different essay to that set initially.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/04/2016

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