Waste-related opportunities: Curricula at the North-West University, Potchefstroom
Campus
JOBURG WASTE SUMMIT, 25 March 2015
Dr. Claudine Roos
Centre for Environmental Management
018 299 4068
083 639 9571
Background• Waste Roadmap: Gap in tertiary education
opportunities in SA.
• NWU (Potchefstroom Campus) was appointed by DST in 2014 to develop a post-graduate qualification at Honours level in Waste Management.– Development process was facilitated by CSIR
• BSc. Hons in Environmental Sciences with specialisation in Waste Management– 128 credits
– Contact
– Full (2015, 1 year) or part-time (2016, 2 years)
• The application was approved by the NWU for delivery in January 2015.
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Curriculum outline of programme Hons. B.Sc. Environmental Science with specialisation in Waste Management (N649P)
Programme outline
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OMBO 611 Introduction to Environmental Management
16 credits – Semester 1
OMBW 611 Fundamentals of Waste Management**
20 credits – Semester 1
OMBW 612 Waste Management Law and Governance**
16 credits – Semester 1
OMBO 679 Environmental Analysis I
20 credits – Year module
OMBO 621 New Waste Management Solutions**
16 credits – Semester 2
OMBE 673 Research Project**
40 credits – Year course
Overview
• Definitions, terminologies, principles of Environmental Management;
• Environmental Management tools and instruments;
• Basic overview of Environmental Management and how it relates to other processes;
• Brief introduction to environmental legislation, guidelines etc.
• The sustainability challenge
• Environmental management systems
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OMBO 611 Introduction to Environmental Management
Overview
• Waste-related definitions, terminologies; principles;
• An introduction to the national waste management strategy and hierarchy;
• Waste management life cycle/value chain from cradle to grave including waste storage, separation, collection, transportation, disposal;
• Roles, responsibilities and mandates for waste management;
• Integrated waste management planning;
• Introduction to waste streams of special concern;
• Understanding the receiving environment.
• Site visit: Potchefstroom
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OMBW 611 Fundamentals of Waste Management **
Overview• History of development of waste-related legislation;
• Legal framework for integrated waste management (NEMWA, NWA, NEMA, MPRDA and other relevant legislation);
• Regulations and norms and standards;
• Guidelines, strategies, by-laws etc.;
• Assessment of current practice versus legal requirements;
• Role players in waste management and governance,
• Legislation dealing with wastes of special concern;
• Pollution prevention, remediation and emergency incidents;
• Integrated waste management licencing: Process and substantive requirements.
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OMBW 612 Waste Management Law and Governance **
Overview
• Theory, principles, origin and development of EIA
• The Regulatory context for EIA & Case Law
• The EIA process and comparative EIA systems
o Screening & scoping, public participation
o Impact identification, prediction, evaluation and mitigation
o EIR quality review
o Specialist studies
o EIA follow-up, compliance monitoring, and enforcement
• SEA; EIA and Planning
• The effectiveness of EIA
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OMBO 679 Environmental Analysis I
Overview• Implementation of the waste management hierarchy through innovation
and technology• Designing for the environment: Waste avoidance and minimisation
options• Re-use and recycling of waste• Waste treatment options• Considerations for waste-to-energy technologies• Options for waste disposal• Appropriateness of technologies: Adaptation and localisation of
innovation and technology• Site visit to waste management facilities in Gauteng: Technologies• Support to implement waste management solutions
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OMBW 621 New Waste Management Solutions **
Overview• Supervised research on waste-related topic• Students should be able to conduct research under suitable supervision, by
demonstrating ability to do the following:o Undertake appropriate literature searches, gather and critically interrogate
multiple sources of knowledge and critically evaluate and review such knowledge with a view to write a succinct literature review;
o Write a research proposal, demonstrating the ability to think critically and argue sensibly, and ensure that the proposal complies with all scientific and ethical requirements;
o Select, evaluate and apply suitable methods of data gathering, analysis and interpretation to reflect on and then address complex problems in the field of Waste Management with a view to contribute to positive change in practice; and
o Accurately communicate research findings to peers verbally and in written reports, with clear understanding of and respect for intellectual property conventions, copyright and rules on plagiarism.
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OMBE 673 Research Project **
Where are we going at the NWU?
• 2016: Addition of part time delivery of Hons degree
• 2017: Masters degree in Environmental Management with specialisation in Waste Management