Duration
Safety part : 25h Th, 2d FW
Management part : 15h Th, 1d FW
Number of credits
Lecturer
Safety part : Grégoire Léonard, Angélique Léonard, Dominique Toye, Dominique Toye
Management part : Angélique Léonard, Grégoire Léonard
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Safety part
These seminars illustrate various aspects of process safety in chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It consists in alerting the students on the importance of process safety concerns in the industry, more particularly for chemical applications because of the dangerousness of the manipulated products. Safety process is based on the analysis of the risks, a proactive management of prevention, the implementation of barriers and means of remediation in case of problem.
Depending on years and speakers, some of the following themes are approached:
Overview : risk and hazards
- Combustions-explosions : in case of gases, liquids and solids.
- Thermal runaway
- Atmospheric dispersion of accidental discharges
- Case studies : some incidents
- Seveso legislation in Belgium
- High pressure gas management (O2, N2, He, H2): supply, storage, handling
- PSM : Process Safety Management
- Design of a chemical process including safety issues
New: a partnership has been established with ESSENSCIA (the federation of chemical and life sciences companies), which will provide industry experts for four sessions.
Management part
This course is made of contributions by industrial speakers having a demonstrated experience in the management of industrial projects in the field of chemical and process engineering. The contributors are at different career levels. They will present to students the reality of the industrial world through concrete examples of previous projects. They will detail each steps, from the idea to the commercialization, going through the R&D phase, the pilot unit...
The course will cover the full lifecycle, governance, roles and responsibilities, decision-making, and the methodological tools used in real industrial environments. The training incorporates practical examples (greenfield, brownfield, and acquisition-failed projects), structured project governance, soft- and hard-skill tools, feasibility logic, accuracy levels, and stakeholder management.
Case studies will be presented and a specific focus on the use of Artificial Intelligence in project management will be provided.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Safety part
At the end of the course, the student will be able to :
- show his understanding of the various theoretical concepts, the legislative aspects, risk assessment methodologies approached during the seminars;
- put in relation these various aspects with the realized visits of industrial sites.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, III.3, IV.4, IV.5, V.1 of the MSc in chemical and material science engineering.
Management part
- Define an industrial project and identify its core characteristics
- Understand the organizational, technical, financial, safety, and governance dimensions of industrial projects
- Explain the phases of an industrial project
- Understand how feasibility studies, scenario evaluation, and estimation accuracy support investment decisions.
- Identify the roles and responsibilities of key project stakeholders and governance actors.
- Apply the HOW framework: soft skills, hard skills, governance tools, and stakeholder management methods.
- Recognize the importance of structured communication, values, and behaviors in project execution
- Understand the use of AI tools in planning, cost control, engineering analysis, risk management, procurement, and site monitoring.
- Analyze real industrial examples and draw lessons from successful and challenging projects
- Use a complete glossary of industrial project terms
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Safety part
Bachelor degree in engineering (orientation chemical engineering and material science) or Bachelor degree in chemistry
Management part
No pre-requisite
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Safety part
The majority of speakers come from industry or the public sector.
The timetable for the 2026-2027 academic year is as follows:
18 September: Angélique Léonard (Risk/Hazard - Combustion - Explosion) /
25 September: Dominique Toye
2 October: Introduction to safety engineering: Process safety bootcamp, Geert Boogaerts (Essenscia)
10 October: Introduction to safety engineering: Process safety management - the essential features (Essenscia)
16 October: Introduction to safety engineering: Hazard and risk analysis (Essenscia)
23 October: Emmanuel LHeureux (risk management in Wallonia, SEVESO, etc.)
6 November: to be confirmed
13 November: Introduction to safety engineering: Functional Safety (Essenscia)
20 November: Visit to Total (All day)
Management part
Ex-cathedra lectures, interaction with industrial experts. A visit of an industrial site is also expected.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Safety part
Blended learning
Additional information:
Face-to-face seminars (15 hours) and industrial site visits (if possible)
Management part
Face-to-face course
Further information:
Face-to-face
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Safety part
Copy of slides
Management part
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Course materials to be provided on ecampus
Safety part
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions )
Further information:
Written examination in January. One or two questions requiring short answers will be asked for each part of the course. Links with the industrial sites visit will be requested.
Attendance at the seminars given by external guests and the visits are compulsory for entry to the January exam.
Management part
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam
Further information:
Written examination during the January session.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Safety part
Schedule to be confirmed by Mrs Léonard
Contacts
Safety part
Prof. A. Léonard
Tél. : 04/366.44.36
A.Leonard@uliege.be
Management part
Grégoire LEONARD, g.leonard@uliege.be