Environmental and safety management (5cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Content scheduling

The study course is divided into two parts as follows

2,5 ECTS Environmental management
2,5 ECTS Safety management

Objective

Purpose of the course
The operating environment is challenged by many societal crises that require the organisation to prepare for and anticipate environmental and safety risks. Reconciling legislation and external requirements with organisational requirements and well-being at work requires diverse competence in managing safety and environmental risks.

Environmental and safety management plays an important role in the success and sustainability of an organisation and creates wider positive impact on society.

This course primarily supports the following Sustainable Development Goals: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

Jamk University of Applied Sciences, School of Business is committed to the Principles of Responsible Management Education initiative (PRME), which aims to develop responsible decision-makers for future and advance sustainable development.

Course competencies

Responsibility management skills
You are able to initiate and implement responsible business with strategic stakeholders and partners.

Service business management skills
You are able to evaluate and develop strategies to support the management and development of service business and initiate development measures together with stakeholders in changing and unpredictable operating environment.

Working life
You are able to develop the communication and interaction culture of the work community.
You take advantage of the possibilities of technology in development and management.

Sustainable development
You are able to apply sustainable development knowledge and future visions holistically as the basis for sustainable solutions.
You are able to lead the search, implementation and establishment of sustainable solutions and operating models in their work communities.

Learning outcomes of the course

You are able to plan and implement environmental and safety strategies according to the needs of organisations.
You are able to assess and analyse environmental and safety risks, taking into account different stakeholder responsibility perspectives.
You promote the implementation of sustainable development in the organisation, taking into account environmental and safety aspects.
You are able to communicate environmental and safety issues to the organisation's key stakeholders
You are able to identify key risks in your organization and apply risk management methods in an organisation.

Content

In the course, you will learn examples of themes focused on environmental and safety management from the perspectives of legislation, risk management, responsibility communication, stakeholder responsibility, and digital security.

Location and time

The course begins on February 9th, 2026, and ends on May, 20th, 2026.
The course is scheduled online study course.
You will study according to the schedule provided in Moodle.

You will find the detailed schedule in the Moodle learning environment, which opens on January 26th, 2026.

Attendance will be checked three weeks after the course start date. Participation in the course requires that you submit the first orientation assignment by March, 2nd, 2026.

Materials

The course utilizes, among others, the following sources. Additional material can be found in the online learning environment (Moodle).

Adra, I., Giga, S., Hardy, C., & Leka, S. (2024). What is safety leadership? A systematic review of definitions. Journal of Safety Research, 90, 181–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2024.04.001

Hopkin, P., & Thompson, C. (2022). Fundamentals of risk management: Understanding, evaluating and implementing effective enterprise risk management (6th ed.). Kogan Page.

Kang, L. (2024). Exploring a data-driven framework for safety performance management: A theoretical investigation at the enterprise level. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 91, 105384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2024.105384

Pasman, H. J., & Behje, S. W. (2024). The evolution to Industry 5.0 / Safety 5.0, the developments in society, and implications for industry management. Journal of Safety and Sustainability, 1(4), 202-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsasus.2024.11.003

Toivanen, J., Niittymaa, J., & Luoma-aho, V. (2025). Tekoälykäs informaatiovaikuttaminen. In ProComma Academic (pp. 153–172). ProCom – Viestinnän ammattilaiset ry. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.fi

Valtioneuvosto. (2025). Yhteiskunnan turvallisuusstrategia: Valtioneuvoston periaatepäätös (VN/12457/2021). Valtioneuvoston julkaisuja. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-383-762-1

Teaching methods

Study methods

Environment and safety management is an online course. You study in the Moodle learning environment. In Moodle you will find course instructions, schedules, assignments and study materials. You participate in the introductory webinar of the study course, which includes the orientation and introductory lecture of the study course. You will conduct independent information gathering and apply what you have learned in learning assignments done in group works or individually.

Learning tasks:

1) You are able to evaluate your previous skills and set goals for developing your skills (written learning assignment, individual assignment)
2) You are able to demonstrate your knowledge of environmental and safety management in the exam (evaluated individual task, evaluation weight 50%)
3) As a written individual assignment, you make a development plan for the organization of your choice from the perspective of environmental and safety management (evaluable individual assignment, evaluation weight 50%).
4) You assess the skills you have acquired during the course (written learning assignment, individual assignment)

Pre-assignment: As a pre-assignment, you will get familiarising yourself with the content, objectives and completion of the course and by setting learning goals for yourself. By submitting the assignment by March 9, 2026, you ensure your participation in the course.

Guidance
You will receive guidance in the Moodle learning environment (e.g. question and answer forum) and webinars. You will also receive guidance from your peer students.

Feedback
You will receive both qualitative and quantitative evaluation and feedback onto your examination, group work and reflective assignments.

You will also provide mid-term and final feedback on the course.

Employer connections

You will prepare the development plans for the organization of your choice during the study course.

Exam schedules

Online exam at the time specified in the course. A failed online exam can be retaken.

22 § Degree regulations.
After receiving a Fail (0) grade, the student is entitled to two (2) retakes as defined in the course implementation description until the end of the next semester. The same grading scale is applied to retakes. If a student does not pass the examination at three (3) attempts or fails to use retake, the failed grade remains valid, and the student must start studying the course again. If dishonest or fraudulent activity is suspected or detected in learning assignments or examinations, the student's performance will be rejected and Jamk's ethical guidelines will be followed.

International connections

You can utilize international research literature in terms of international aspects related into your development plan.

Completion alternatives

You can familiarise yourself with 18§ of Jamk's degree regulations when considering the recognition and recognition of course competence based on your previously acquired competence and the objectives of the course.


There are two main ways of accreditation of studies completed at a higher education institution: replacement and inclusion. Replacement means the replacement of studies included in the curriculum with higher education studies of at least the same level (EQF/NQF 6 or EQF/NQF7) and with similar learning objectives completed elsewhere in the same field of study. Inclusion means the inclusion of higher education studies of at least the same level (EQF/NQF 6 or EQF/NQF7) completed elsewhere as part of the degree.
An accreditation decision will be made of any re-placement and inclusion. Recognition of informal learning, prior to or during the studies refers to the ability of the student to analyse the competences they have acquired and to perceive them in the context of the learning objectives of the study module or course in such a way that they are able to describe and substantiate their competences. The recognition of competence acquired in other ways means approval of the competence acquired by the student by way of an assessment decision. The student has the right to apply for accreditation and recognition of prior learning but no obligation to do so. This does not apply to studies completed as part of the degree as cross-institutional studies or during international student exchange, the accreditation of which the student will agree upon as part of their personal learning plan. The student may apply for accreditation of higher education studies completed elsewhere (open studies or another institute of higher education) or recognition of competence they have acquired in other ways.

Student workload

Your indicative use of time during the 5-credit course is 135 working hours, which is divided as follows:

Online lectures and webinars 5 hours
Familiarization with study material 60 hours
Individual assignment 70 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

You identify and classify the key concepts of environmental and safety management. (1-2)

You are able to plan a development project (1-2) for your chosen organisation from the perspective of environmental and safety management.

You illustrate the results of an environmental and safety management development project, but there are shortcomings in demonstrating expertise. (1)

You present the results of an environmental and safety management development project and demonstrate expertise in communication. (2)

Assessment criteria, good (3)

You illustrate and structure the concepts of environmental and safety management, justifying them in connection with the needs of the industry. (3-4)

You are able to plan and implement a development project for your chosen organisation from the perspective of environmental and safety management, which affect the work community level (3) and organisational level (4).

Considerations in communicating the results of the environmental and safety management development project to different target groups and demonstrate persuasive expertise. (3-4)

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

You evaluate the key concepts of environmental and safety management critically. (5)

You plan and implement a development project for your chosen organisation from the perspective of environmental and safety management, which has an impact on both the organisation and stakeholder level. (5)

You produce new information on the results of your environmental and safety management development project for your organisation's key stakeholders and take into account the societal context in your presentation, demonstrating special expertise. (5)

Qualifications

No prior knowledge required.

Further information

Assessment Methods

The competences you gain in the course will be qualitatively and quantitatively assessed based on the learning objectives using various methods such as communal learning in webinars, feedback from the teacher, and the student's self-assessment.

The assessment of learning is developmental.
The assessment is based on learning objectives, qualitative, criterion-referenced, and self-assessment by the student plays an important role.