Bachelor's Degree Programme in Energy and Environment in buildings Programme description

This programme description was prepared by Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences pursuant to the National Curriculum Regulations for Engineering Education, adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research on 4 February 2011.

The Norwegian Qualifications Framework for Higher Education, which was adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research on 20 March 2009, provides an overview of the overall learning outcomes defined in terms of the knowledge, skills and general competence candidates are expected to have achieved after completing the education. The learning outcomes described in the programme description have been prepared in accordance with the National Curriculum Regulations and the Qualifications Framework.

The study programme concerns issues relating to energy and environment in buildings. The emphasis is on knowledge about healthy buildings and good indoor climate. At the same time, the global problems of increased pollution and scarce energy resources are also addressed by emphasising optimum energy utilisation and environmentally friendly materials in buildings. Key aspects of the programme include energy-efficient and environmentally friendly design, clean buildings, optimum heating operation, environmental accounting and ecoprofiling of buildings. The teaching is partly project-based.

The programme qualifies students to work for contractors and technical building consultants. Other relevant employers include technical central and local government agencies, and there are many possibilities in sales, marketing and consultancy services. Some graduates also start their own business. The programme also qualifies for further education at master’s degree level at universities and university colleges, including the Master’s Degree Programme in Energy and Environment in Buildings at OsloMet.

Energy and Environment in Buildings is a three-year full-time study programme, and candidates who have earned 180 credits will be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Energy and Environment in Buildings.

The programme is aimed at applicants who have a natural science background and wish to take further education in an engineering field. Applicants without a natural science background can apply for admission to the OsloMet’s introductory course or three-semester scheme to qualify for the engineering programmes. See OsloMet’s website www.oslomet.no

The programme’s admission requirements include the Higher Education Entrance Qualification/prior learning and work experience and mathematics R1+R2 and Physics 1. An introductory course or qualifications from a technical college under previous regimes are sufficient to meet the qualification requirements. Applicants with qualifications from a technical college pursuant to the Act relating to Tertiary Vocational Education of 2003 only need to take mathematics R1+R2 and Physics 1.

Reference is made to the Regulations concerning Admission to Higher Education:

https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2005-04-01-15?q=forskrift_opptak_høyere_utdanning

After completing and passing the three-year bachelor's degree programme in energy and environment, the candidate is expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate:

• has acquired broad knowledge that gives an overall systemic perspective on the discipline of engineering in general, with a specialisation in subjects relating to energy systems and environmental issues in buildings
• has basic knowledge in mathematics, statistics, physics and relevant social sciences and how these fields may be integrated in the solution of engineering problems relating to energy and the environment in buildings
• has insight into specialisation subjects such as energy, fluid mechanics, heat transmission, mass transfer, indoor climate, sanitation, heating, ventilation and sanitary engineering, and automation
• is familiar with different computer tools and relevant software in fluid mechanics, heat transfer
• is familiar with technological developments in the field of energy and the environment in buildings, the role of the engineer in society, and about the social, environmental, ethical and financial consequences of technology
• is capable of updating his/her knowledge independently by seeking out literature, through contact with professional environments and user groups and through practical work
• has knowledge that provides an overall perspective on the field of energy and environmental engineering
• is familiar with research challenges relating to energy and the environment in buildings and with scientific methods and modes of working in the specialisation subjects energy, indoor climate, HVAC engineering and automation in buildings.

Skills

The candidate is capable of:

• applying and processing knowledge to solve problems relating to energy and the environment in buildings, propose technical solutions, analyse and quality assure the results
• using computer tools and relevant computer and simulation programs in the field
• working, both independently and as part of a team, on planning and carrying out measurements, analyses and engineering projects
• finding and critically assessing relevant information, literature and other relevant material, and of using this to elucidate and discuss a problem both orally and in writing
• contributing fresh thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship in connection with developing and realising sustainable solutions and products that benefit society.
• searching for specialist literature and critically assessing the quality of the source
• compiling reference lists in accordance with the applicable template.

General competence

The candidate

• is aware of the environmental, ethical and financial consequences of analyses and processes that concern energy and the indoor climate in buildings
• is capable of communicating his/her knowledge to different target groups both orally and in writing, and has the ability to illustrate the importance of technology and its consequences for society
• is capable of participating actively in professional discussions, showing respect and being open to other fields and contributing to interdisciplinary work
• is capable of contributing his/her expertise in projects and developing major projects together with others.
• has information literacy skills; knows why it is necssary to seek out quality-assured sources of knowledge,why sources must be cited, and is familiar with what is defined as plagiarism and cheating in student work

The programme consists of courses that lead up to an exam. Each course is worth at least 10 credits.

The programme comprises the following courses (see the national curriculum):

Common courses (C), 30 credits – basic mathematics, systems perspectives on engineering and an introduction to professional engineering practice and work methods. The common courses are common to all study programmes.

Programme courses (P), 50-70 credits – technical subjects, natural science subjects and social science subjects. Programme courses are common to all programme options in a study programme

Technical specialisation courses (TS), 50-70 credits – courses that provide a clear specialisation in the student’s chosen engineering subject and that are based on programme courses and common courses

Elective courses, 20-30 credits (E) – courses that provide breadth or depth in the professional specialisation.

Elective courses and further education

Elective courses can focus on breadth or depth learning. The elective course EMVE3500 HVAC, worth 20 credits and offered in the fifth semester, focuses on depth learning and is a compulsory part of the programme.

In addition, students must take one elective course worth 10 credits in the fifth semester. See the table below. If a student wants to choose another course or take the elective course in another semester, it must be approved by the programme.

Students who want to qualify for admission to the Master’s Degree Programme in Energy and Environment in Buildings at OsloMet must have at least a C on average and 30 credits in mathematics including statistics and Mathematics 3000 or 4000. These admission requirements apply to most master’s degree programmes in Norway.

5. semester

EMVE3500 HVAC and renewable energy (HVAC) (E) (compulsory)

EMVE3700 Computational Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow

BYVE3605 Hydroelectric Power (**)

DAVE3700 Mathematics 3000 (*)

DAVE3710 Academic English (*)

STKD6610 Technology and Society II (*)

DAVE3705 Mathematics 4000 (***)

(*) Common elective courses for the engineering programmes (**) See the programme description for the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Civil Engineering

(**) See Civil engineering

(***) The course is held in spring, and the students from the Civil Engineering programme are therefore not normally expected to take this. Students in the programme are nevertheless entitled to register for the course, and if the course is completed, it can be approved as an elective course in the degree programme.

See the respective course descriptions for more detailed information about work methods, reading lists, assessment and exam aids. Teaching and supervision are provided as a combination of lectures, calculation and computer exercises, laboratory exercises and projects. Laboratory work and projects are carried out in groups.

Periods of project work are largely based on the students' own efforts, and the amount of project work increases as the programme progresses. More external teaching resources will also be involved during the final three semesters than during the three first semesters. English textbooks are used in several courses. Special compendia will be prepared for some courses. The study programmes also make extensive use of standards and regulations relating to the courses.

Before the programme starts, the person responsible for the course will prepare a teaching plan for the course that will contain detailed information about scheduled exercises and coursework requirements with pertaining deadlines, a progress schedule and a reading list.

The engineering programmes are adapted for internationalisation in that the students can take courses abroad, primarily from the fourth semester. See: https://www.oslomet.no/

In addition, OsloMet's collaborates with institutions in several European countries on an English-language course called European Project Semester (EPS). It is worth 30 credits, and is mainly intended for incoming exchange students. Interested students can take the final semester of their programme as an EPS abroad. For OsloMet's own students, an EPS course at OsloMet can replace the bachelor’s thesis. Admission to EPS is based on individual application.

Engineering is an international field. Much of the course literature is in English, and several of the systems and work tools use English as their working language. Some of the teaching may be in English. The individual course descriptions will state which courses this concerns. These courses will give the students good experience and knowledge of English engineering terminology.

Required coursework means compulsory assignments/activities that must be approved by a given deadline in order for students to be able to sit the exam. Coursework can be written work, project work, oral presentations, lab courses, compulsory attendance at lectures or in groups etc. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the course description. 

The required coursework is intended to ensure the students’ progress and development and that they participate in necessary elements of the programme. Coursework requirements can also be set to ensure that students achieve a learning outcome that cannot be tested in an exam.

Previously approved coursework can be valid for three years after it is approved, provided that the course remains unchanged.

Required coursework is assessed as approved or not approved.

The examination regulations are specified in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet and the National Curriculum Regulations for Engineering Education. See OsloMet’s website https://www.oslomet.no/

Oral and practical exams re assessed by two examiners, as these forms of exams cannot be appealed. Formal errors can nonetheless be appealed.

One overall grade is given for the portfolio.

It is only possible to appeal the exam result for the portfolio assessment as a whole. Any information provided about weighting is only considered additional information in relation to the final grade. If parts of the portfolio contain elements such as an oral presentation, practical assignments etc., the exam result cannot be appealed. The rules concerning right of appeal are described in each individual course description.

Exams that are only assessed by internal examiners shall be regularly selected for external assessment.

Assessment

The grades pass/fail or a grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail are used for exam grades.

Prerequisite knowledge and study progress

Prerequisite knowledge over and above the admission requirements is described in the course descriptions.

Even if no specific requirements for prior knowledge are defined, the students should take courses worth at least 50 credits each year to be able to complete the programme within the nominal length of study.

• From the first to the second year of the programme – courses worth 50 credits should be completed
• From the first and second years to the third year of the programme – courses worth 100 credits should be completed

Students must be registered in the third year of study and have completed at least 100 credits from the first and second years of study by 1 October to register for the bachelor’s thesis.

All three-semester courses must be passed.

Programme supervisor scheme

Programme supervision is part of the quality assurance of each individual study programme. A programme supervisor is not an examiner, but someone who supervises the quality of the study programmes. All study programmes at OsloMet shall be supervised by a programme supervisor, but there is leeway to for practise the system in different ways. Reference is made to the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

Rescheduled/resit exams

Students must register for resit/rescheduled exams themselves. Resit/rescheduled exams are normally organised together early in the following semester. Resit exams are for students who have taken the exam and failed. Rescheduled exams are for students who did not take the regular exam. The conditions for taking resit/rescheduled exams are set out in the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

Diplom

The final assessment for each course is indicated on the diploma for the Bachelor’s Degree in Energy and Environment. The title of the bachelor’s thesis will also be included on the diploma.

The purpose of OsloMet’s quality assurance system is to improve the students’ learning outcomes and development by raising quality at all levels. HiOA wishes to cooperate with the students, and their participation in quality assurance work is crucial. The overall goals for the quality assurance system include:

• ensuring that the educational activities, including practical training and the learning and study environment, maintain a high level of quality
• ensuring that the study programmes are relevant to the professional fields
• ensuring that the quality continues to improve

For the students, this entails, among other things:

• student evaluations
• course evaluations
• annual student surveys for all of OsloMet