Introductory description

This is an optional module for the BA Liberal Arts, BASc Liberal Arts and Sciences, GSD BASc Global Sustainable Development, and Design Studies degrees; it will be available to undergraduates across the University, but students from SCFS will have priority.

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.

The module’s interdisciplinary structure is based on the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. This module adds a fourth pillar: cultural sustainability. Prior to arrival in Venice, students will do preliminary readings to orient themselves on these topics The intensive two weeks in Venice will focus on transhistorical issues and case studies linked to these pillars. The final session, in Term 1 of the academic year following the study in Venice, will feature a conference in week 7 where students present their final work to each other and to the instructor in a supportive academic environment. The module focuses on bringing together interdisciplinary knowledge and asking how Venice’s past can inform both its present challenges and implementations of future solutions.

As the module uses problem-based learning, topics may change from year to year depending on contemporary issues and new research. Field visits may also change from year to year depending on availability, operational concerns, and relevance to the module topics.

An indicative syllabus is below:

Week 1: Introduction and Intersecting Contexts

M. Introduction: Venice, Representations, and Sustainability Challenges
T. Cultual Contexts: Migration and Sanctuary at the Crossroads of Global Trade
W. Ecological Contexts I: Sustaining The Venetian Empire
Th. Ecological Contexts II: Forestry and Fisheries Management
Fr. Economic Contexts: Tourism from the ‘Grand Tour’ to the ‘Grandi Navi’

Week 2: Case Studies and Problems in Contemporary Venice

M. Holding Back the Tides 1: Wet and Dry Urban Infrastructure
T. Global Gentrification, Cruise Ships, and Civic Resistance: The Fondaco de' Tedeschi
W. Holding Back the Tides 2: the MOSE Project and the Venetian Lagoon
Th. Industrial Arts and Crafts in Crisis: Porto Marghera, Burano, Arzanà
Fr. A New Atlantis: Rebuilding For A Sustainable Future? (Fondazione Cini, Arsenale) / —Conclusions

Please note that this module follows an OOC (out-of-cycle) module credit framework. Students will study for the module in the summer prior to their final year of UG study; formally register for the module in the final year of study; complete the assessment in T1, and obtain credits for that particular year. The module cannot be taken as not-for-credit, and all students outside Liberal Arts must have written permission from their home department's director of undergraduate studies (DUGS) to take the module.

Learning outcomes

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

• Identify the key sustainability challenges currently facing present-day Venice and the perspectives of concerned stakeholders.
• Engage in detailed reflection on how the city has dealt with such complex problems and competing economic, political, social, cultural, and environmental interests in the past.
• Critically analyse existing local sustainable solutions, and future implementation plans, along with their scalability and adaptability to other global challenges.
• Apply advanced cognitive skills to develop evidence-based policy proposals and critically reflective research.
• Implement meta-cognitive skills to approach wicked problems through Problem-Based Learning and gain greater understanding of their own role in the learning process.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Research element

Students will produce a final research conference paper on a topic of their own choosing related to the themes of the module.

Interdisciplinary

This is module offers a unique transdisciplinary learning experience allowing students to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge. The module is designed to provide the students with an understanding of relationships between the different disciplinary areas within sustainability, urban studies, and cultural studies, with a particular focus on Venice. It also invites to the students to make connections with other disciplinary areas covered in their main study programme. It provides the students with a critical understanding of dominant traditions and methodologies associated with the main phenomena covered in the module and enables the students to transcend disciplinary boundaries. The interdisciplinary course cohort provides contact opportunities and learning to see from different perspectives is a core aspect of the learning experience.

International

The module draws on cases from different contexts, including different geopolitical areas, professional environments and linguistic contexts. The content and assessment invite the students to reflect on the societal relevance in different environments of the phenomena covered in the module. The assessment involves students working in groups with academic and ideally non-academic stakeholders which (will) allow for a global and local outlook to be built into the module’s work. The international place-based experiential onsite learning is a core aspect of the learning experience.

Subject specific skills

Analytical skills attained through the analysis of existing local sustainable solutions, and future implementation plans, along with their scalability and adaptability to other global challenges.

Transferable skills

Advanced cognitive skills of critical reflection ; Meta-cognitive skills gained through Problem-Based Learning which aid understanding of own role in the learning process; Work effectively with others in group tasks and in teams; Plan and manage time in projects; Develop strong analytical skills; Find, evaluate and use previous research at a level appropriate for an intermediate-year module; Use a range of tools and resources effectively in the preparation of course work; Read and critically discuss academic papers effectively in the context of an intensive programme; Communicate clearly and effectively in discussions; Communicate ideas effectively in writing and in oral presentations.