Postgraduate Course: Case Studies in Sustainable Development (PGGE11192)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces the diverse range of approaches being used to achieve sustainable development. These include international governance, national institutions, economic instruments, environmental regulation, technological innovation, new policy initiatives and grassroots participation.
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| Course description |
The course considers various different scales for thinking about sustainable development, from global agreements to households and individuals. Some of the key themes that run through the course are the inter-relation and balance between economic and environmental decision-making; the consequences of upstream and downstream interventions; the imposition or adoption of regulations and incentives for environmental change; power and control over decision-making; and the role of experts and trust in information.
The use of these approaches at different levels of governance in a range of key sectors is considered, mainly on a case study basis. The course encourages a strongly interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of sustainable development and seeks to foster critical thinking and debate.
In addition, students will develop transferable skills in writing succinct (policy) briefs. Tailored training, and discussions with experts from science, policy and practice will explain the characteristics and importance of effectively communicating core messages.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
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Lecture Hours 40,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
156 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessed only by coursework (there is no examination):
The course is assessed by three assignments, an issue brief (50%), a group presentation (25%), and a persuasive brief (25%):
1. A 4-page issue brief will be based on a topic chosen from a range of titles related to the lectures in the first five weeks of the course; due by 12 noon on Wednesday 15 March.
2. A 15 minute group presentation will present findings on a chosen sustainable development topic on Thursday 6 April.
3. A 2-page persuasive brief will be based on the group topic and make specific recommendations to the University Social Responsibility and Sustainability department; due by noon on Thursday 20 April.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Have a good understanding of sustainability initiatives in a range a different topical policy areas
- Have knowledge of a range of relevant case studies
- Understand the diversity of challenges, in terms of sectors and scales of governance, necessary to achieve sustainable development
- Have developed transferable skills in synthesis and presentation of sustainable development issues and recommendations through succinct, targeted briefs.
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Reading List
Tailored reading material will be made available in advance to prepare for each lecture. This usually consist of a mix of academic literature and more applied policy reports and websites. A distinction is made between essential and recommended reading.
In preparation for the course students are recommended to have read the introduction (pp: 1-6) from Beder (2006) from 'Environmental Principles and Policies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction'. It gives a brief overview of the principles that were covered in last semester's sustainability course, so might provide useful background for those students who did not attend. (this text is available on Learn).
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Anyone wishing to enrol students from outside the School of GeoSciences should make a specific arrangement with the Course Organiser. |
| Keywords | case studies,sustainable development,sustainability,society,environment,transition |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Simon Allen
Tel: (0131 6)50 7215
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Paula Escobar
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: |
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