The course prepares graduates to take up positions related to the design and management of sustainable processes and projects; socio-environmental management, consulting and engineering; and the formulation and evaluation of sustainability policies and strategies developed in public and private research centres, non-governmental organisations, and companies and public organisations (national and international) related to spatial planning, the environment and sustainable development. The course also provides students with the skills required to undertake academic research in sustainability science and technology.

Generic competencies

Generic competencies are the skills that graduates acquire regardless of the specific course or field of study. The generic competencies established by the UPC are capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability and social commitment, knowledge of a foreign language (preferably English), teamwork and proper use of information resources.

Specific competencies

On completing this master's degree, students will be able to:

• Critically and systemically analyse and assess development and sustainability theories, strategies and policies; different approaches to the sustainability paradigm, the issues involved and the environmental, social, cultural and economic implications; the particular characteristics of environmental economics and ecological economics; and problems related to the economic valuation of goods, services, resources and externalities.
• Apply knowledge of the evolution of societies, their impact on the environment, urban transition, and the main defining features of modern society; apply techniques and knowledge on the management of socio-environmental conflict.
• Critically analyse and assess theories and approaches regarding the characteristics and properties of the geosphere and biosphere in order to facilitate and provide a framework for the development of socio-ecological systems and analyse the main challenges of climate change.
• Show an effective and critical approach to meeting the challenges of sustainability and sustainable development by applying conceptual frameworks, processes and techniques for obtaining and processing data, applied statistics, mathematical models, systems analysis, geographic information systems, information and communication technologies and industrial ecology.
• Critically analyse the characteristics, working methods, business management, environmental management and business strategies of organisations, institutions and key agents in the promotion of sustainable human development, sustainability, environmental protection and climate change, based on knowledge and application of concepts and theories of business ethics and social responsibility in the fields of engineering and scientific and technical innovation.
• Apply the methods and tools used in identification, information management, planning, management, execution and assessment of sustainability and environmental management programmes and projects; work in collaboration to solve specific problems.
• Design, develop and apply, in an integrated and coordinated manner, concepts, theories and analysis techniques taken from the social sciences, economics and the earth sciences, as well as management techniques, action research methods and approaches based on sustainability science and technology in the fields of biodiversity, natural resources, the built environment, services, industry and information systems.
• Coordinate, plan, develop and assess sustainable development programmes and sustainability strategies by identifying and strengthening the abilities of participants and considering local, national, European and international organisations, strategies and policies on this topic.
• Apply knowledge on integrated management of the natural environment and natural resources, especially hydraulic and energy resources, in the development and proposal of scientific and technological solutions to the challenges of sustainability.
• Develop advanced approaches for analysing and assessing the sustainability of the built environment, including building construction, infrastructure and transport, in order to minimise impact and select the most appropriate alternatives, in accordance with at least one of the three pillars of sustainability: the economy, society and the environment.
• Design, develop, apply and assess conceptual frameworks, theories, methodologies and techniques from the field of ICTs to promote sustainable development and sustainability.
• Apply and assess theories, approaches and methods for integrated valorisation in the fields of nutrition and rural development, agricultural engineering, water engineering, energy, building construction, construction, transport and spatial planning, and adopt a critical approach to analysing the results.