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Local-Global Innovation (Cornwall Research Seminar Series)

Module description

We are facing critical sustainability challenges rooted in complex interrelations between social, economic, and ecological systems. As a result of globalization, these challenges often have a transnational aspect and require global coordination. In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a global agenda that is meant to provide a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet called. Nevertheless, achieving sustainable development and finding solutions to these global challenges, calls for local action. This module will explore when and how local communities can be drivers for transformational change and tangibly impact global development goals

Module aims - intentions of the module

The objective of this module is two-fold. First, you will delve into real-life local innovation projects that aim to contribute to sustainable development. You will hear from experts active in academia, non-profit organisations, companies, and politics about how they deal with regional socio-ecological sustainability issues through their work. Based on these conversations, you will develop a digital impact story, such as a podcast, in groups. Second, you will analyse the different theoretical angles that conceptualize the local context of sustainability and sustainable development and how change can be achieved through bottom-up approaches. You will ask questions ranging from “How are global ideas implemented locally? How are innovation projects embedded in their local context?” to “How do workers mobilize their local identity and what does this mean for companies’ social license to operate? What is the role of imagination and creativity in creating local realities?”. You will connect these ideas by producing a written text.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. describe the breadth of Cornish innovation projects (and partnership) aiming to contribute to sustainable development and understand the barriers they face in doing so ;
• 2. synthesise interdisciplinary research and non-academic resources on how local innovation projects can reimagine the status quo and create the world we want;
• 3. evaluate the impact of local innovation projects by a wide range of stakeholders on achieving global sustainability goals targeting different issues (e.g., wellbeing, climate change, poverty).

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. devise and sustain a logical and reasoned argument with sound, convincing conclusions;
• 5. critically analyse resources and case studies by interpreting, relating, and evaluating their relevance and importance;
• 6. analyse and evaluate the interests (and power) of different stakeholders in sustainable development and connect this to outcomes and impacts as well as the inclusion (and exclusion) of specific groups of people, topics, and policy types.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. craft an interesting and novel human impact story that brings information to life;
• 8. communicate this story for an intended audience through digital technology, for example by producing a podcast episode;
• 9. successfully navigate working in groups, where everyone has their own role responsibilities, and engage in groups with an external actor.

Syllabus plan

Seminar based structure with guest lectures. Topics range from wellbeing and poverty to climate change, food security, circular production and consumption, and environmental policymaking. We take different lenses in approaching these topics, for example stakeholder salience, cross-sector partnerships, local embeddedness, localization, and social identity. Guest speakers come from  innovative projects that aim to overcome sustainability challenges. The convenor provides a full programme of each academic year's topics/speakers prior to the start of the module.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

A student if deferred via a single component will be reassessed in that component only.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Core resources:

(1) Sustainable Development
UN Development Programme. 2016 “Local Action for the Global Goal”. Available via: https://www.undp.org/publications/local-action-global-goals
UN. 2022. “Bringing data to life”. Available via: https://unov.tind.io/record/73721
Films for Cornwall Climate Care. Available via: https://www.cornwallclimate.org/films

(2) Local Innovation Projects for Sustainable Development
Hopkins, R. (2019). From What Is to What If: Unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want. Chelsea Green Publishing.
Ledwith, M. (2020). Community development: A critical approach. Policy Press.
Rasche, A., Morsing, M., Moon, J., & Kourula, A. (Eds.). (2023). Corporate Sustainability: Managing Responsible Business in a Globalised World (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009118644

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

As provided and recommended during classes and via ELE

Key words search

Sustainability, Innovation, Community-action, Stakeholders, Cornwall