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HRM40950

Academic Year 2026/2027

Climate Change & Business Sust (HRM40950)

Subject:
Human Resources Management
College:
Business
School:
Business
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Colm McLaughlin
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module will provide students with a deeper understanding of the science of climate change, the international and regulatory framework, and emerging resource challenges and market opportunities. It covers climate science, the UNFCCC, mitigation, adaptation, climate finance, business responses to climate change and fundamentals of UN negotiations.

The module is based on a similar module that has been running across Europe for over 18 years as part of the highly rated CEMS Masters in International Management. CEMS is Global Alliance of leading Business Schools, of which the UCD Michael Smurfit School is a member.

The module culminates for our undergraduate students in a two-day intensive workshop and negotiation of a mock United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Dublin in the first Reading Week (Mar 9 & 10). CEMS students are allocated a support role for the Dublin role play. CEMS students will participate in a second roleplay in May in Prague (exact dates to be advised) with CEMS students from across Europe. Lectures will take place in the first 7 weeks of the Spring Trimester.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completing this module, students should be able to:
1) Explain the nature of global warming and the impact of human activities on climate change
2) Understand the global policy approaches taken under the UNFCCC, the diverse interests of parties involved in climate policy negotiations, including governments, companies, NGOs and industry associations to mitigation, adaptation and market mechanisms.
3) Understand the nature of business responses to climate change mitigation and low-carbon business models.
4) Understand and put into practice the basic principles of negotiation and gain an understanding of bilateral and multilateral negotiations.

Indicative Module Content:

This module will provide students with a deeper understanding of the science of climate change, the international and regulatory framework, and emerging resource challenges and market opportunities. It covers climate science, the UNFCCC, mitigation, adaptation, climate finance, business responses to climate change and fundamentals of UN negotiations.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Advanced Beginner

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Advanced Beginner

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

14
Practical

16
Field Trip/External Visits

50
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Group-based project, individual assignment, interactive workshops and two-day negotiation exercise.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: Students will be assigned to a group and be allocated either a country or a working group. Week 9 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
35
 No
Group Work Assignment: Students will be allocated to a task for the Dublin role play held on March 9th and 10th (WG chairs, media, Greenpeace, etc.) and will be graded on the quality of their input to the roleplay Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
15
 No
Reflective Assignment: Individual reflection on your involvement in the CEMS Roleplay and on your learning across the module. Week 14 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Thurs 13:00 - 14:50
Spring Interview Offering 1 Week(s) - 27 Tues 09:00 - 17:50
Spring Interview Offering 1 Week(s) - 27 Wed 09:00 - 17:50
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