Introductory description

While sometimes presented as a 2015 innovation, the aims underlying Sustainable Development are far from nascent. In turn, understanding the histories and theories that culminate into its contemporary forms is vital to successfully exploring the complex problems that Global Sustainable Development now sets out to address. This module introduces students to how the global vision for Sustainable Development has come to be, critically explores its contemporary priorities, and considers future opportunities for its realisation. Drawing from the history and theories that prefigure present-day commitments to Sustainable Development, the module will offer a relevant and useful source of learning on the topic that aims to support students across their BASc in Global Sustainable Development.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

1. Past 1: Civilising missions and the murky history of sustainable progress
2. Past 2: Post-WW2 state-based efforts for sustained development
3. Past 3: Honing a global project - Modernisation, dependency, and systematised development
4. Present 1: Liberal development shocks and uneasy foundations for our era
5. Present 1: Critical backlashes for sustainable change: post-development and participatory approaches
6. Present 1: A goals-based millennium: from the MDGs to Agenda 2030
7. Interlude: Assessment support workshop
8. Futures 1: Challenges and opportunities for the valuable myths of Sustainable Development
9. Futures 2: Pluralised avenues for social justice and equality
10. Futures 3: From collective pasts to our common future

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Explore key theories and historical processes relevant to Global Sustainable Development.
• Analyse academic debates over the central problems and solutions that define Global Sustainable Development.
• Actively consider future opportunities to better achieve the Global Sustainable Development vision in practice.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Interdisciplinary

Sustainable Development is generally understood to require a holistic, multifaceted approach that addresses economic, social, and environmental priorities. This module has been designed to evoke GSD’s problem-based and response-focused pedagogy, and as such draws on a transdisciplinary knowledge in the design and delivery of learning opportunities.

The assessments require students to demonstrate transdisciplinary aptitude in learning for Sustainable Development, as students will need to synthesize, critique, and apply knowledge from a range of disciplines under the varied and multi-disciplinary umbrella of development studies.

International

This is a module on the BASc in Global Sustainable Development, which offers a transdisciplinary and international learning experience for students to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge.

Subject specific skills

• Understanding core theories and historical processes relevant to global sustainable development.
• Knowledge of priorities in the 2030 Agenda and its commitments to global aims, as well as initial understanding of academic debates over central problems and solutions defining our ambitious era of Global Sustainable Development.
• Ability to actively consider future opportunities to achieve the Sustainable Development vision in practice.

Transferable skills

• Working with others: developing professional relationships with others to achieve individual and team outcomes in group activities, presentations, and other module tasks (all forms of employment).
• Effective communication: developing ideas and insights which engage others, driving forward discussions with a focus on actionable and practical solutions. This is a key focus of the module and relevant across sectors (marketing, business, civil sector, third sector)
• Time management: through a requirement to plan independent study, assignments, and engage in other forms of time management in this module, students are able to build valuable workplace skills (all forms of employment)
• Emotional intelligence: students develop a nuanced and practical understanding of complex global issues with a firm emphasis on taking local context and individual experiences into account, supporting future careers where a considered and engaged approach to clients/stakeholders is relevant (social work, NGO project work, customer relations, management, etc.)