Skip to main content

Polytechnique Montréal: SDES101 Engineers Canada – Sustainability in practice

Polytechnique Montréal
Engineers Canada – Sustainability in practice

Enrollment is Closed

THIS COURSE IS OVER.

A new edition of the course is online. Sign up now!

About this course

Learn how to apply Engineers Canada’s National guideline on sustainable development and environmental stewardship for professional engineers.

This course is a joint project between Engineers Canada (EC) and Polytechnique Montréal. It will show real case studies illustrating practical applications of the 10 guidelines contained in EC’s National guideline on sustainable development and environmental stewardship for professional engineers (2016). It will also suggest tools for engineers to apply these guidelines in their professional practice.

Ce cours est également offert en français.

Target audience

This course is designed for all practising engineers in Canada, regardless of their discipline or their position, whether as employees, employers, researchers, academics, consultants, regulators or manager. The course has no prerequisites.

Course structure

Module 1: Sustainable Development, Environmental Stewardship, and Engineering

Introduction to the notions of sustainable development (SD) and environmental stewardship (ES). Environmental, social and economic challenges of SD. Overview of EC’s 10 guidelines.

Module 2: Improving Competencies: Available Tools for Engineers

Three case studies showing the importance of SD and ES, and illustrating the practical application of the guidelines. Tools and resources: social impact assessment, Global Reporting Initiative, life cycle assessment, environmental impact assessment, laws and regulations.

Module 3: Planning and Managing Risk in a Changing World

Three case studies showing the importance of SD and ES, and illustrating the practical application of the guidelines. Tools and resources: risk assessment and mitigation, biodiversity indicators, climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Module 4: The National Guideline: 10 Principles to Integrate SD and ES in Engineering

Summary review of the 10 guidelines and the importance of their implementation in the previously presented case studies. Recap matrix and complementary material, including links to relevant tools.

Course workload

The course requires approximately two hours’ work per week. This is required in order to follow the course material, complete the learning activities and take part in the debates and exchanges.

Course sequence and evaluation

The course will be given over a period of four weeks, at a rate of one module weekly.

For each module, you will generally have:

  • An introductory video for the module;
  • A series of video vignettes introducing the concepts or guidelines presented in the module;
  • Links to external resources and material, for those who wish to further explore some of the concepts beyond what is required to meet the course objectives;
  • A quiz or exam.

Modules 1, 2 and 3 are each followed by a quiz. These quizzes account for 30% of the course evaluation. At the end of module 4, there is a final exam, which accounts for the remaining 70% of the evaluation.

Modules will become available on the course site following the calendar below. However, you may follow the course at your own rate and leisure, as long as you respect the overall course deadline at the bottom of the table in submitting the evaluations and requesting your certificate of achievement.

Module/Section Date Available Evaluation
Welcome! 24 October 2018 n/a
Module 1 24 October 2018 Quiz 1
Module 2 31 October 2018 Quiz 2
Module 3 7 November 2018 Quiz 3
Module 4 14 November 2018 Final Exam

Deadline for submitting ALL evaluations: 17 December 2018, 23:00 UTC (6 PM EST)

Deadline to request a certificate of achievement: 14 December 2018, 23:00 UTC (6 PM EST)

Certificate of completion

At the end of the course, participants who have obtained the 65% passing grade will have the option to purchase a certificate of completion, which can be downloaded from the EDUlib web site for a $50 fee. Please note that no university course credits are attributed to this certificate.

Presented by

Photo Louise Millette

Louise Millette

Louise Millette, P.Eng., FEC, Ph.D., is Director of the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal and she is committed towards the implementation of sustainability principles in the engineering profession. She is Adjunct Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Operational Sustainable Development (CIRODD). Prof. Millette strongly believes in the importance of integrating these notions in engineering curricula, and she is chair of the academic committee of the Institute on the Environment, Sustainable Development and Circular Economy (Institut IEDDEC) of the University of Montreal Campus. She is also head of Polytechnique Montréal’s Sustainability Office.

Photo David Lapp

David Lapp

David Lapp, FEC, P.Eng., IRP, is Manager, Globalization and Sustainable Development at Engineers Canada. A geological engineer, he is active in climate change, infrastructure, environment and sustainability issues as they affect the practice of engineering. His work includes the development of practice guidance in these areas which includes the development and application of an infrastructure climate risk assessment tool known as the PIEVC Protocol that is used in Canada and internationally.

Photo Patrick Cigana

Patrick Cigana

Patrick Cigana, P.Eng., M.Sc.A, has practiced engineering for over 15 years in the private and academic sectors. Through his subsequent involvement in active politics, he developed an acute awareness of the social aspects of sustainable development. He is currently Senior Advisor at Polytechnique Montréal’s Sustainability Office.

Photo Shirley Fagnen

Shirley Fagnen

Shirley Fagnen, P.Eng., M.Sc.A., is also Sustainability Advisor at Polytechnique Montréal. Her previous experience includes work as life cycle analyst and as a sustainable development specialist in a consulting firm. She also has experience in developing MOOCs and will be animating and moderation the discussion forum.

Photo Alexandre Courchesne

Alexandre Courchesne

Alexandre Courchesne, P.Eng., M.Sc.A, is currently teaching sustainable development to future engineers at Polytechnique Montréal, where he is also responsible for the undegraduate sustainability thematic orientation. He has over 10 years experience in the field of sustainable development, mainly as a life cycle analyst.

Participants

image de Jean-François Verret

Jean-François Verret, P.Eng.

Director - Projects, Geology and Exploration
Raglan Mine

image de Amélie Rouleau

Amélie Rouleau

Director – Public Affairs, Communications and Community Engagement
Raglan Mine

image de Denis Lefebvre

Denis Lefebvre, P.Eng.

Senior Associate
Stantec

image de Greg Laflamme

Greg Laflamme, P.Eng.

Operations Manager
Vestshell inc.

image de Matt Osler

Matt Osler, P.Eng.

Project Engineer
City of Surrey

image de Carrie Baron

Carrie Baron, P.Eng.

Drainage Manager
City of Surrey

image de Anouk Desjardins

Anouk Desjardins, P.Eng.

Lecturer
Polytechnique Montréal

image de Alexandre Beaudoin

Alexandre Beaudoin

Biodiversity Advisor
Université de Montréal

With the support of

Catherine Carré

Educational Advisor
Polytechnique Montréal

Francis Demers

Multimedia Director, Educational Media
Polytechnique Montréal

David Lachambre

Multimedia technician
Polytechnique Montréal

Chris Feetham, P.Eng., MBA, FEC

Member, Environment and Sustainability Committee
Engineers Canada

Paul Fesko, P.Eng., MBA

Member, Environment and Sustainability Committee
Engineers Canada

Marie-Josée Leblanc

Multimedia technician
Polytechnique Montréal

Suzelle Barrington, P.Eng., FEC, Ph.D.

Member of the Accreditation Board
Consumaj Experts conseils

Denis Isabel, P.Eng., PhD, FIC

Member, Environment and Sustainability Committee
Engineers Canada

Mahmoud Mahmoud, P.Eng., PhD, FEC

Chair, Environment and Sustainability Committee
Engineers Canada

Catherine Christoffersen

Coordinator, Qualifications
Engineers Canada

  1. Course Number

    SDES101

  2. Institution

    Polytechnique Montréal

  3. Classes Start

  4. Classes End