GD5802 Sustainable Development: From Principles to Practice

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Open to MSc Sustainable Development students only.

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr J C Hope

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team taught; teaching staff confirmed at start of semester.

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module examines how doing sustainable development research with non-academic partners challenges us to engage with sustainability as an academic, policy and practical concern. We will consider how inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development stimulate learning and innovation to address socio-environmental inequalities and vulnerabilities. The module allows students to draw on concepts introduced in semester one and reflect critically on how evidence is produced, the role of partnership and collaboration to support more sustainable policy and practice, and how ontological plurality is both a blessing and challenge for the theory and implementation of sustainable development. More broadly, the module provides preparation for the end of degree project by developing student ability to evaluate and communicate progress towards sustainability for academic and non-academic audiences.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE GD5801

Assessment pattern

100% Coursework

Re-assessment

100% Coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hourr online/in person lecture/seminar/presentation x 11 weeks, 1 hour online/in person support session x 7 weeks; additional skills workshops in some weeks; in person/online office hours

Scheduled learning hours

37

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

264

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • • Critically engage with sustainability as an academic, policy and practical concern
  • • Develop an appreciation of the role of inter- and trans-disciplinarity in sustainable development
  • • Strengthen ability to present coherent arguments on how sustainability is applied to global and local issues
  • • Improve skills required to communicate sustainable development to a variety of audiences