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Blekinge Institute of Technology
Department of Strategic Sustainable Development
Revision: 3
Reg.no: BTH-4.1.14-0152-2023
Course syllabus
Sustainable Product Development
Sustainable Product Development
7.5 credits (7,5 högskolepoäng)
Course code: SL2543
Main field of study: Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
Disciplinary domain: Technology
Education level: Second-cycle
Specialization: A1N - Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Language of instruction: English
Applies from: 2023-08-28
Approved: 2023-03-01
1. Descision
This course is established by Dean 2018-12-06. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Strategic Sustainable Development 2023-03-01 and applies from 2023-08-28.
2. Entry requirements
Admission to the course requires completed at least 6 credits in a basic course in strategic sustainable development, such as the course Sustainability basics, completed at least 2 credits in basic understanding of product development and 1 credits in sustainability analysis in product development, for example from the course Innovative and sustainable product development.
3. Objective and content
3.1 Objective
Building on their knowledge and skills from previous courses, students will learn how to (1) perform sustainability analysis in product development and (2) generate ideas for improvement based on the analysis. They will learn (3) advantages and disadvantages of various approaches to the above and (4) how to integrate these approaches into concept development. Competence in sustainable product development is in demand in industry and society. The course develops theoretical understanding and applied skills at the intersection of two of BTH's areas of expertise – sustainability and product development.
3.2 Content
Students will learn to applystrategic sustainability thinking and some selected supporting approaches, methods and tools to analyse and iteratively improve the sustainability performance of product concepts during the concept development phase of a product innovation process.
4. Learning outcomes
The following learning outcomes are examined in the course:
4.1. Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- apply Ecological Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) to analyse and compare ecological sustainability performance and identify opportunities for improvement of product concepts.
- apply social LCA to analyse and compare social sustainability performance and identify opportunities for improvement of product concepts.
- apply design for recycling as an example of how to generate ideas for improved sustainability performance of a given product concept.
- propose materials for a material choice gate decision and justify why the choice likely leads to increased (ecological and social) sustainability performance.
- compare the approaches, methods and tools included in the course in order to identify their advantages and disadvantages and describe how they can be integrated into the concept development phase.
4.2. Competence and skills
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- perform the sustainability analysis (above) even with limited information.
- use analysis results to critically explain the sustainability performance of a product system.
- communicate analysis results in writing, in English, and include arguments for choice of scope and assumptions made.
- foster team success by setting teamwork goals, peer-mentoring, building upon strengths, and overcoming weaknesses.
4.3. Judgement and approach
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- identify own need for further knowledge in sustainable product development.
5. Learning activities
Students will learn through a combination of project-based learning, reading and lectures or seminars.
6. Assessment and grading
Modes of examinations of the course
| Code | Module | Credit | Grade |
| 2310 | Project assignment 1 | 3 credits | AF |
| 2320 | Project assignment 2 | 2 credits | AF |
| 2330 | Project assignment 3 | 1.5 credits | GU |
| 2340 | Written assignment | 1 credits | AF |
The course will be graded A Excellent, B Very good, C Good, D Satisfactory, E Sufficient, FX Failed result, a little more work required, F Fail.
Project assignment 1: Ecological LCA assignment.
Project assignment 2: Social LCA assignment.
Project assignment 3: Material choice decision assignment.
Written assignment: Integrating into product development.
All examination tasks must be passed to receive a pass grade for the whole course. The course grade will be calculated by weighting together all assignments that are graded A-E based on the credits that the assignments are worth.
The information before a course occasion states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed.
An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.
7. Course evaluation
The course evaluation should be carried out in line with BTH:s course evaluation template and process.
8. Restrictions regarding degree
The course can form part of a degree but not together with another course the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.
9. Course literature and other materials of instruction
Material will be provided at the learning platform.
This is not a legal document. If you would like a copy of the legal decision regarding this course plan, contact the registrar at Blekinge Institute of Technology.