SD4110 Transitioning to sustainability: community, nature and governance

Academic year

2024 to 2025 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 10

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

Offered on a two year cycle

Planned timetable

Monday 10am-1pm

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

Module coordinator

Dr R M White

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

Module Staff

Dr R White

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

Module description

A transition towards sustainability will be multifaceted, requiring novel forms of governance and acknowledging the roles and perspectives of different actors. State intervention alone will not suffice; local and grassroots initiatives and movements are critical. In this module we will explore how communities of place, interest, practice and value can contribute to multi-level governance for sustainability, but can also question dominant assumptions manifested at national or international levels. We will examine how community interacts with other sectors, explore learning, adaptation and resilience in communities and pursue the trend for alternative economies. We will draw on examples from the global north and south. In addition, we will critique the contested concept of community itself, acknowledging issues relating to heterogeneity, representation and relationality.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS SD2001 AND PASS SD2002 ) OR ( PASS SD2005 AND PASS SD2006 AND PASS SD2100 )

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 40%, Coursework = 60%

Re-assessment

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 hour lecture (x10 weeks), 1 hour seminar (x10 weeks), 3 hour practical class (x2 weeks), 4hr field-trip (x3 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

38

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

Guided independent study hours

262

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

Awards

Golden Dandelion Award for excellence in Education for Sustainable Development

This module exhibits an excellent method to embed sustainability within other learning: by focussing a project around reporting on St Andrews’ sustainability effort, it both meets the module goals of teaching communication and listening in academic contexts, and exposes students to real-world issues in sustainability. This module has been awarded the Golden Dandelion Award in 2022.

You can find out about all Golden Dandelion modules