AESC30080
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Academic Year 2025/2026
Agri-Environmental Issues and Policy (AESC30080)
Subject: : Agricultural&Environmental Sci
College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences
School: : Agriculture & Food Science
Level: : 3 (Degree)
Credits: : 5
Module Coordinator: : Professor Olaf Schmidt
Trimester: : Autumn
Mode of Delivery: : On Campus
Internship Module: : No
How will I be graded? : Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
This module provides an overview of the potential impacts of agricultural practices on the wider environment and agri-environmental policy responses towards the mitigation of such impacts at both national and EU level. Important environmental issues in agriculture and related land uses are discussed from the perspective of the protection of natural resources (air, water and soil quality), biodiversity, and natural and cultural heritage. A major aim of the module is to develop both an understanding of the major environmental issues driven by agriculture and the responses of policy makers to address these issues.
About this Module
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What will I learn?
Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module students should be able to:\ - Describe major environmental issues and requirements for the development of sustainable agriculture.\ - Identify the impacts that modern farming systems can have on the environment.\ - Understand the aims and measures of the various policies and schemes to control or limit such impacts.\ - Understand the basic principles necessary for the appropriate management and protection of the agri-environment and the quality of its air, soil and water resources, including the basic principles of: good farming practice, nutrient management and planning, habitat management.
Indicative Module Content:
The module provides a basic understanding of legislative controls and agri-environmental incentive schemes operated at national (Irish) and EU levels. This includes the operation and implementation of major EU environmental directives, environmental aspects of Land Eligibility and Conditionality (Basic Income Support for Sustainability Scheme, BISS), agri-environmental incentive schemes (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme, ACRES), as well as results-based, locally-led and related high-nature value schemes including the Results-based Environmental Agri-Pilot (REAP) scheme.\
How will I learn?
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 28 |
| Seminar (or Webinar) | 2 |
| Specified Learning Activities | 40 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 40 |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 110 |
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Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Teaching and learning in this module are based on lectures, delivered by different UCD academics with specific expertise, complemented by guest lectures by outside experts from the agri-food industry and agriculture/environment state departments.\ Seminars with smaller student groups in Active Learning Environments (ALE) are used for active and group-based learning.
Am I eligible to take this module?
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Not applicable to this module.
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Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module. \ \
How will I be assessed?
Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Project: A creative assignment. Each student researches, creates and presents a mini-documentary, animation, slide show, poster, policy brief or similar multi-media piece on a relevant topic of their choice. | Week 12 | Graded | No | 50 | No |
| Exam (In-person): Multiple Choice Questionnaire, testing knowledge, understanding and interpretation of content covered in this module. | End of trimester Duration: 1 hr(s) | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 50 | No |
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Carry forward of passed components
Yes
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What happens if I fail?
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
|---|---|
| Spring | No |
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \
Assessment feedback
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\ • Group/class feedback, post-assessment\
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
Group/class feedback on the in-class assessment component will be given in a lecture. Frequent errors/problem questions/unanswered questions will be discussed. Individual feedback (written mini-report) will be provided on the creative assignment.
Associated Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Assoc Professor Helen Sheridan | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
When is this module offered?
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
| Autumn | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks | Tues 16:00 - 17:50 |