Sustainable Product and Process Development (L9, 10 ECTS)

1. Introduction to Sustainability in Engineering

• Definition and importance of sustainability in engineering
• Environmental impacts of engineering products and processes
• Overview of regulations, standards, and frameworks such as ISO 14001
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and the Industry Standards for Sustanability (ISSB), Ethical considerations.

2. Lifecycle Assessment (LCA)

• Introduction to LCA methodology
• Identifying and quantifying environmental impacts at each lifecycle stage
• Software tools for LCA (e.g. Ansys Granta Edupak, GaBi)
• Case studies on product lifecycle assessments

3. Sustainable Design Principles

• Principles of eco-design and sustainable product development
• Material selection for sustainability
• Design for disassembly, repair, reuse, and recycling

4. Circular Economy and Waste Minimization

• Principles of circular economy and industrial ecology
• Waste management strategies: reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery
• Case studies on circular economy in mechanical engineering applications

5. Sustainable Manufacturing Processes

• Energy-efficient manufacturing techniques
• Comparative environmental impact of manufacturing methods (e.g., additive manufacturing vs. subtractive)
• Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma for sustainability

6. Energy Efficiency and Optimization

• Energy consumption in production processes
• Approaches to minimizing energy usage
• Integration of renewable energy in manufacturing systems

7. Sustainable Supply Chain Management

• Sustainable sourcing and procurement strategies
• Green logistics and distribution
• Ethical considerations in global supply chains

8. Emerging Technologies in Sustainable Engineering

• Role of digitalization (e.g., IoT, AI) in sustainable manufacturing
• Sustainable design innovations (e.g., bioplastics, biodegradable materials)
• Industry 5.0 and sustainable manufacturing systems

A minimum Second Class Honours, Grade 2 (H2.2), in a Level 8 Mechanical Engineering degree OR related engineering discipline, or equivalent, from a recognised university or third-level college, or international equivalent engineering programme (as described above).

or

Any qualification(s) deemed by the TUS as being equivalent to point 1. above, when taken in conjunction with Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and/or relevant work experience.

or

Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) 
If you do not meet the academic entry requirements listed above but would like your application assessed under RPL please select YES on the online application form. Please include any relevant work experience/further information relevant to your application under the ‘Additional Information’ section.

English Language: Applicants who do not have English as their first language must ensure they satisfy English Language requirements. For entry to undergraduate courses, a score of 5.5 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. For postgraduate courses, a score of 6.0 in an IELTS or equivalent exam is required. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their English proficiency meets these requirements. Please note that we do not request proof of English language qualification or proficiency.

Modules are to be delivered over 15 weeks in a Online learning format as follows;

Every Monday at 6pm to 10pm

The proposed delivery schedule is subject to change.

Each 5 credits will normally equate to approximately 100 Total Learning Hours. Total Learning Hours includes the time you spend in class (lectures, tutorials, practical elements) and the time you spend completing work outside of college.  The balance between these two varies by discipline, and by level of study. You should bear in mind that the workload will increase at particular times e.g. when assignments are due.

100% Continuous Assessment

Special Purpose Award

Certificate in Mechanical Engineering in Sustainable Product and Process Development (Level 9, 10 ECTS)

This course is funded by the Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy 2026 programme and fees are subsidised at 80% for all eligible learner categories.

Full Fee is € 1,420

*Limited Places*

Places are allocated on a first come first served basis.

The programme will close once the maximum number of applicants is reached.

Final closing date for any unfilled places will be the 19th July 2026.

Programmes run subject to viable numbers.