| CODE | EMP3018 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Environmental Impact Assessment | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Environmental Management and Planning | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will introduce students to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the process of assessing the potential impacts of major development on the environment. The study-unit has three major parts. In the first part, the reasons for conducting an EIA will be explained, together with an explanation of the philosophy and scope of the process and its evolution over time. The second part explains the legal and planning framework within which EIA is applied, both locally and in the wider European context. In the third part, the various steps involved in conducting an EIA will be explained in detail. Students will also be introduced to a selection of methods for conducting baseline and impact assessment studies used in various disciplines. A variety of case studies and examples of practice from around the European Union will be used throughout the study-unit. The study-unit will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and fieldwork. Study-unit assessment will be based on: - Short quizzes to test student understanding (individual); and - The application of relevant techniques and skills to a hypothetical project scenario, on which students will work in groups throughout the study-unit. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims: - To familiarize students with the Environmental Impact Assessment process; - To enable students to understand the way in which an Environmental Impact Assessment is administered in Malta and the link between local regulations and European directives; - To enable students to understand key terms, steps, and elements of the EIA process; - To introduce students to methods used in conducting baseline studies and assessing impacts; - To make students aware of the range of disciplines involved in the EIA process; - To develop student skills in researching and assessing a development project scenario and reporting for technical and non-technical audiences. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Determine whether or not a particular project requires an EIA; - Describe and critically appraise the main stages of the EIA process; - Distinguish between an EIA, an SEA and other related assessment processes; - Define key terms relevant to the EIA process; - Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the local EIA system. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply selected methods for conducting baseline and impact assessment studies; - Distinguish between different types of impact; - Evaluate the significance of an impact based on defined criteria; - Write a concise impact assessment report for a hypothetical project scenario; - Adapt their communication style to both technical and non-technical audiences. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Text: - Morrison-Saunders, A. (2018). Advanced Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment. Edward Elgar. ISBN 9781785369711. Supplementary Texts: - Carroll, B. (2019). Environmental Impact Assessment Handbook, Third edition: A practical guide for planners, developers and communities. ICE Publishing. ISBN: 9780727761415. - Glasson, J. and Therivel, R. (2019). Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, 5th Edition. Taylor and Francis. ISBN: 9781138600751. - Therivel, R. and Wood, G. (2018). Methods of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, 4th Edition. Routledge Natural and Built Environment Series. ISBN: 9781138647671. Additional readings to be made available to students via VLE. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Attendance to scheduled sessions (lectures, field work, seminar, laboratory sessions and any other teaching session in whatever mode) is obligatory and only students having a satisfactory attendance will be assessed in the study-unit. Students, who do not attend at least 85% of the teaching time allocated to the study-unit, will not be allowed to sit for any of the assessment components mentioned below. | ||||||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Fieldwork and Seminar | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Elisabeth Conrad Mark Scerri (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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