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Blekinge Institute of Technology
Department of Strategic Sustainable Development
Revision: 2
Reg.no:
Course syllabus
Sustainable product development
Sustainable product development
7.5 credits (7,5 högskolepoäng)
Course code: SL2569
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: 2025-03-04
Approved: 2025-03-04
1. Descision
This course is established by Dean 2023-12-08. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Strategic Sustainable Development 2025-03-04 and applies from 2025-03-04.
2. Entry requirements
Admission to the course requires 2.5 completed credits in strategic sustainable development and 2 completed credits in basic understanding of product development.
3. Objective and content
3.1 Objective
The objective of the course is to develop the student’s theoretical understanding of and applied skills in applying strategic sustainability thinking and selected complementary approaches, methods and tools to, in the concept development phase of a product innovation process, analyse and iteratively improve sustainability performance of product concepts.
3.2 Content
The course includes theory, methodology and practice to, from strategic sustainability thinking: (1) perform sustainability analysis in product development, (2) generate ideas for improvement based on the analysis results, (3) assess advantages and disadvantages of various approaches, methods and tools for the above, and, (4) integrate these into concept development.
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 above-mentioned the sustainability analysis even with limited information.
- use analysis results critically to explain sustainability performance of a product system.
- communicate analysis results in writing, in English, and include arguments for choice of scope and assumptions made.
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
The teaching and learning take place by a combination of project work, literature studies, lectures and seminars.
6. Assessment and grading
Modes of examinations of the course
| Code | Module | Credit | Grade |
| 2510 | Project assignment 1 | 3 credits | AF |
| 2520 | Project assignment 2 | 2 credits | AF |
| 2530 | Project assignment 3 | 1.5 credits | GU |
| 2540 | Presentation | 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.
The examiner may carry out oral follow-up of written examinations.
Project assignment 1: Ecological LCA assignment.
Project assignment 2: Social LCA assignment.
Project assignment 3: Material choice decision assignment.
Presentation: 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 the start of the course 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.
10. Additional information
This course replaces SL2543
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.