Sustainability assessments

Max amount of FITech students: 20 adult learners and 10 degree students

The course will provide the students with a tool box for evaluating the environmental, social and economic impact of a product or project. It will also urge the students to think critically and to reflect on the contradictions and consensus between sustainability, environmental protection and economic productivity.

Course contents

• Sustainability (SDGs, planetary boundaries)
• Impact assessments
• Environmental Impact Assessments (LCA, carbon foot-/handprint)
• Social Impact Assessments (Social LCA, ecological footprint)
• Economic Impact Assessments (cost-benefit, net present value, lifecycle cost)
• Decision-making

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student will be able to

• define sustainable development
• list the SDG (interpret and understand the application of SDGs to real-life case studies)
• examine the social impact of a product or project
• calculate the environmental impact of a product or project
• assess the economic feasibility of a product or project
• devise sustainable courses of action for a product or project.

Course material

Course material includes articles, reports, guidelines and videos. The course uses SimaPro software (it is pre-installed on the computers in the computer classroom in Aurum, Turku).

Teaching schedule

• Lectures Mon 14:30-16:00 and Wed 12:30-14:15 (recordings available).
• Computer class on campus to be used on Wed 4.12, 11.12 and 18.12.

Completion methods

Lectures, group work, self-studies (literature), assignments (individually and in groups), use of software in computer class (for LCA).

More information in the Åbo Akademi University study guide.

You can get a digital badge after completing this course.

Kestävä kehitys, kestävyysarviointi, elinkaariarviointi, kannattavuusarvionti, sosiaalisten vaikutusten arviointi