Course syllabus for Social sustainable shipping

Course syllabus adopted 2025-02-17 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameSocial hållbarhet inom sjöfarten
  • CodeMMS295
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPMAR
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyShipping and Marine Technology
  • ThemeEnvironment 7.5 c
  • DepartmentMECHANICS AND MARITIME SCIENCES
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 01122
  • Maximum participants30 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0125 Written and oral assignments, part A 1.5 c
Grading: TH		1.5 c
0225 Written and oral assignments, part B 3 c
Grading: UG		3 c
0325 Examination, part C 3 c
Grading: TH		3 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

None.

Aim

The course aims to provide in-depth knowledge and understanding social sustainability in management of ships and ships operations. In compliance with the stated aim, the course focuses on understanding international regulatory guidelines on working conditions, quality management, ergonomics, management of human resources, and safety inspection frameworks- and standards.

During the course, participants will have the opportunity to experience the dynamics and participate in a workshop with the objective to discuss identified suggestions to improve working conditions based on an understanding of roles and responsibilities in the maritime shipping sector. In order to promote critical thinking and reflection on equality, quality, and ergonomics in sustainable management of ships a project assignment conducted in groups in the course. The project assignment is reported orally and as written report.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and comprehension
- Describe and use international regulatory guidelines on working conditions, quality management, ergonomics, management of human resources.
- Describe and use safety inspection frameworks- and standards.

Application
- Critically evaluate the concepts and theories being studied
- Critically evaluate work conditions to support decision-making for improvement of social sustainability in the maritime shipping sector.
- Assess requirements on dissemination and documentation of work conditions based on protection of personal integrity in processing of personal data e.g., The European General Data Protection Regulation, or General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Discuss published research, laws and guidelines within the field

Content

The course covers sustainability goal 5 Gender equality, 8 Decent work and economic growth, and 10 Reduced inequalities.
 
- Understanding and assessment of labor and working conditions
- Occupational Health and Safety/Ergonomics/ Human Factors in complex shipping socio-technical system
- Regulatory frameworks and standards on safety, labor and work conditions – IMO directive
- Equity and Equality: UN Sustainable Goals
- Frameworks for improved social sustainability in shipping 

Organisation

The course is organized around:
- Lectures and guest lectures (mandatory)
- Video-recorded lectures
- A workshop including written report (mandatory),
- Project assignment including written report and oral presentation (mandatory)
- Written exam (mandatory)

Literature

Literature will be presented in the CoursePM and published on the course web page

Examination including compulsory elements

The course include the following examination elements

Part A: Workshop:
Requirements: Compulsory participation
Passed written report
Graded: TH scale (i.e. Failed, 3, 4, 5)

Part B: Project work:
Requirements: Passed submitted project report, and oral presentation of submitted project.
Graded: failed / passed
 
PART C: Written exam:
Requirements: Passed with a grade (3)
Graded: TH scale (i.e. Failed, 3, 4, 5)

For a final grade on the course all examination requirements must be passed. The final grade of the course is set by the written workshop report (PART A) and the exam (PART C).

Failure on any of the examination elements will be examined during the re-examination period of the course. 

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.