Module manager: Dr Zihao An
Email: z.an@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is approved as a discovery module
Daily life is significantly influenced by transport systems, affecting the opportunities available to different people, resulting in equity issues. Economic activity depends on efficient transport, both globally and locally. Transport governance and policy has to balance these benefits against significant human and environmental impacts. Transport continuously evolves as technology advances, influencing urban form and development as well as energy demand. These challenges require a multifaceted, interdisciplinary perspective for more sustainable and resilient transport in future.
The objectives are to introduce students to:
* the role of transport and mobility in modern societies;
* how current transport systems have evolved and their entwined relationship with geography, urban form and economic change;
* trends in travel and key issues affecting transport in different local, national and global contexts;
* what impacts transport has on society, the economy and people’s lives;
* what factors may help or hinder how we are able to travel in the future;
* how these issues relate to key topical debates in society, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and climate change.
Topic focused lectures, discussion-based thematic tutorial discussions, a field trip, visioning workshops and group presentations are learning activities designed to achieve these aims and objectives alongside two pieces of summatively assessed coursework.
By the end of this module it is expected that students will be able to demonstrate a range of subject specific learning outcomes relating to a foundational understanding of key concepts and knowledge regarding challenges in transport and mobility and how these relate to sustainability: 1. Describe how urban form and development is intertwined with the historical and modern development of transport technology, economy and social practices and norms. 2. Outline the social, energy and environmental impacts of transport activities and mobility and their importance to becoming more sustainable. 3. Appreciate the different fields and disciplines that generate knowledge relevant to transport and mobility challenges. 4. Recognise that a mix of different social, political and technical developments and behavioural changes are needed for the transport system to become more sustainable.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| presentation | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Fieldwork | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Lecture | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Seminar | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tutorial | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| Private study hours | 78 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Opportunities to receive formative feedback exist across the full length of the module: 8 x weekly tutorial discussions (verbal, representing week by week work) (all LO) 1 x visioning seminar (1 hours) and 1 x group presentation (2 hour session), but drawing on learning from across the module) (LO 11, 13) Formative feedback accompanies the summative assessment of the mandatory CW 1 (1000 word fieldwork report, covering 4 weeks of
the module) and the mandatory CW 2 (8-10 minute visioning video, demonstrating knowledge from across the whole module).
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Coursework | 50 |
| Assignment | Coursework | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team