Changing

our WorldDo we plant trees

Or create online lectures?

AB0401

Seminar 04 Group 7KOH Thong Kiat

LOH Sin Yi

LEE Jia Sheng

WEI Ting Jie, Mitchell

KEE Xurong

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Agenda1. The Overarching Principle

2. Review of Available Alternatives

3. Stakeholder Analysis

4. Our Proposal

5. Executive Summary

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The Overarching Principle

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Overarching Principle

The university’s priority lies

in providing a rigorous and

effective education for

undergraduates

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Overarching Principle

Thus, efforts to reduce

carbon emissions must not come

at the expense of an effective

academic curriculum

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Review of

Available Alternatives

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Assumptions University of choice: NTU

23,518 undergraduates

6,612 staff

On average, a student has 4 hours of

lessons a day

Lectures constitute 35% of total lessons

duration in NTU

I.e. An average student spends 1.4 hour of

his lessons in a lecture theatre daily

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Alternatives

e-LecturesCarbon Credits

Option 3

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e-Lectures

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e-Lectures All lectures (one-way communication)

can be conducted online

Lessons which deliver theories without the

need for in-class discussions and/or

interaction with the tutor

Fulfils the learning needs of students

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e-Lectures Not possible for ALL types of lessons

(e.g. seminars, tutorials and lab sessions)

Based on current technologies, online

platforms are unable to fully replicate the

interaction and meaningful discussions in a

classroom setting

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e-Lectures Impact on carbon emissions:

Reduces energy consumption to operate

lecture theatres, thus decreasing carbon

emissions relating to electricity and air-

condition

Reduces need to travel to NTU, thus

decreasing carbon emissions relating to

transport

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SourceCO2 Savings

(Tonnes)

Savings from Transport reduction 14,193

Lecture Theatres – Air-Conditioner savings 3,760

Lecture Theatres – Other Electricity savings 5,100

Total 23,053

Carbon Emission SavingsFrom e-lectures per annum

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Carbon Credits

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Carbon Credits NTU may consider purchasing carbon

credits from CO2 Australia to offset its

carbon emissions

Easy to implement without any disruption

to current processes or curriculums

Technically, NTU can “offset” its carbon

emissions completely just by purchasing

an equivalent amount of carbon credits

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Carbon Credits However, since carbon reductions are

sourced in Australia, Singapore’s carbon

emissions at the national level may not be

deemed to have actually improved

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Carbon Credits Also, this is not sustainable in the long-run

Do not provide an incentive for NTU to seek

new methods to reduce CO2 emissions

Lack of commitment to improve the

University’s processes or models

Merely an evasion of responsibility by using

funds to artificially manipulate CO2

emissions figures

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NTU Students’ Union

“Green Committee”For students, by students

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Environmental sustainability has become increasingly important in modern education

Companies (whom undergraduates will eventually be applying to) have also placed greater emphasis on being environmentally friendly

Should tap on this trend and newfound enthusiasm for the environment

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Green Committee

Implement new committee under NTU

Students’ Union, “Green Committee”

In charge of monitoring and analysing CO2

emissions and setting targets for reducing CO2

emissions

Main student body responsible for coming up with “Green” proposals and communicating

them to NTU’s administration

Spearheading waste and emissions reduction

programmes upon approval by the University

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Green Committee

Programmes to consider: Reduce wastage of electricity when classrooms

are not in use (commonly seen in NTU)

Limit all air-conditioning temperatures in classrooms to 25oC

Decrease reliance on paper notes by providing subsidized rates for tablets

Create platform for students to buy/sell old tablets

Identify suitable sites and facilitate the installation of solar panels at those sites (e.g. S4 and S3 blocks)

Identify areas eligible for changing of light bulbs to energy-saving LED lights

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Green Committee

Stakeholder Analysis

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Stakeholder Analysis

Government

•Want to mitigate overall CO2 emissions at the national level

•Want to maintain Singapore’s image as an education hub

NTU

•Want to offer quality education

•Want to reduce its overall CO2 emissions at the University’s level

Students

•Want to receive a quality education

•Want to have a vibrant and enriching learning environment

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Our ProposalShort and Long Term Solutions

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e-Lectures Short Term Solution

e-Lectures will be our short term proposal

to mitigate CO2 emissions in NTU

Effective means to reduce CO2 emissions

without compromising on the quality of

course delivery to students

(e.g. meaningful in-class discussions)

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Green CommitteeLong Term Solution

IN LINE with the University’s objective of EDUCATION!!!

Students learn while at the same time contribute to reducing carbon emissions

Increase student’s organizational commitment and attachment with involvement

A long term initiative with continual efforts to also fit in with the government’sobjectives to promote a greener nation-state

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Executive Summary As an educational institution, NTU’s top priority lies in providing a quality

education for all enrolled students. Our goal – to reduce carbon emissions without compromising on the quality of course delivery.

3 available alternatives are considered:

1. To conduct all lectures on the online platform

2. To purchase carbon credits to offset carbon emissions.

This option is deemed not sustainable

No real incentive for the University to seek new methods to reduce CO2 emissions

lack of commitment

3. To set up NTUSU Green Committee

In charge of monitoring and analysing CO2 emissions and setting targets for

reducing CO2 emissions

Spearheading waste and emissions reduction programmes

In the short run, e-lectures will be an appropriate solution

23,053 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be saved per annum without compromising on the

quality of course delivery to students

In the long run, the NTUSU Green Committee will be a sustainable solution

CO2 emissions can be reduced in an educational manner

Students’ knowledge and enthusiasm in the environment can be tapped on by

involving them in actual projects

Specific projects can be undertaken upon approval by NTU’s administration

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References

https://www.ntu.edu.sg/ABOUTNTU/CORP

ORATEINFO/FACTSFIGURES/Pages/staffpo

pulation.aspx

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/AboutNTU/Corpor

ateInfo/FactsFigures/Pages/Undergraduat

eStudentenrolment.aspx

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