ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - 2025/6

Module Overview

The dominant approach towards identifying, documenting and minimising the effects an organisation has on its specific and the wider (physical and to some extent social) environment is originated in the Total Quality Management (TQM) Movement. Auditing as the systematic process of performance evaluation against pre-set standards, as well the need to embed all activities into a contrived system of managing activities are at the heart of environmental management. They are also at the heart of this module, which has the purpose of introducing environmental auditing and environmental management systems in a practical, informative and useful manner. 

The course will explore the dominant, practical and topical concerns surrounding environmental auditing and environmental management systems. It is one of the components required for the Associate Membership of IEMA.

Module provider

Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering

Module Leader

ANDRIES Ana (Sust & CEE)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Implementation aspects of management systems


• ISO14001, EMAS – their content, main differences and similarities.


• Details to consider when implementing ISO14001


• Developing and reviewing an environmental aspects register


• Role of auditing in EMS implementation

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate: their critical thinking and practical skills in understanding and evaluation the environmental performance of a company, as well as the ability to critically reflect on the concept and practice of auditing, including the applications of ISO14001 and EMAS into an effective EMS.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

·         800 word individual pre-module reflective essay. 

·         2000 word post-module reflective essay or company report. 

Formative assessment and feedback

Feedback will be provided in detail to the assessments and in class during the discussions. To support this and following group discussions in class, each student is asked to write a short report on their respective group members (max 600 words). In addition, a group facilitator (demonstrator) from the PGR programme will be hired to support group discussion and provide additional formative feedback.

 

Module aims

• To provide a solid understanding of the knowledge, skills and steps required to undertaking an Environmental Audit.
• To understand & develop appropriate Environmental Policies
• To be able to competently read an environmental audit report.
• Increase understanding of the meaning and function of EMS and its certified standards;
• Improve the understanding of the role of EMS
• Aid in the collection of data within an EMS
• Appreciate common implementation problems
• Discuss and highlight practical experiences of EMS implementation

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching is designed to encourage active, case-based learning.  The module will encourage students to explore and critically evaluate theoretical perspectives underpinning practice cases, and consider their application to their own organisations.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures and class discussions 


• Site visits


• Independent study 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENGM066

Other information

The Centre for Environment and Sustainability is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability and Resourcefulness and Resilience, in line with the Surrey Curriculum Framework. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:

Employability: Employability is a critical consideration for this module, not only because this is one of the modules required for IEMA/IES accreditation, but also because of the practical, applied nature of the module by design. The module has professional guest lecturers, including a certified environmental auditor who will run the majority of the first three days of the module and who will, as part of the discussion, offer feedback on the ideas of students. In the past, several internship options as well as employment opportunities have arisen from the presentations from industry during the module. . Career options will be discussed in the course as well.

Digital capabilities: This module is focused on “on-the-ground” type work (in auditing and management of an organisation). Digital capabilities are built into such tasks and environmental management in general, requiring networking, remote communication, and access to a plethora of relevant information. This does include electronic audit protocols.

Sustainability: EAMS is at the heart of managing (and verifying) the environmental dimension of sustainability. In addition, the module covers how these environmental practices and tools can be transferred or widened to include sustainability.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.