Perspectives on Sustainable Development
| Module title | Perspectives on Sustainable Development |
|---|---|
| Module code | GEOM407 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Maike Hamann (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
We start this module by looking at the foundational concepts for sustainable development and sustainability science in the context of the Anthropocene, a new geological epoch in which humans have become the key driver of planetary change. We examine a series of key ideas including debates around growth, prosperity, resilience and ecosystem services. You will gain a broad understanding of contemporary ideas in sustainable development, evaluating and analysing these in relation to real-world sustainability problems. We consider a “complex systems” framing of sustainability challenges, and examine national and international policy processes: how environmental policy is conceived, including the role of different types of information and evidence; how it is appraised against different criteria; and how it may be contested by different actors. The module allows you to apply your academic learning in a variety of real-world contexts, through workshops, discussion, and interaction with guest speakers. There is an emphasis on directed self-learning and engagement with incoming professionals. Overall, this module provides a grounding in key concepts and themes, essential for developing further research and career interests in sustainability.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will challenge you to engage critically with the principles and practices of sustainable development and environmental decision-making. A range of learning and assessment modes aim to enable you to understand different approaches and methodologies, as well as a diversity of perspectives on contested topics.
You will have the opportunity to explore ways of balancing environmental, social and development goals via research-led case studies and real-world problems, assisted by guest speakers from different disciplines and contexts. By providing a broad introduction to sustainable development and discussing a wide range of perspectives, the module aims to increase your transferrable and employability skills including:
• Critical and considered thinking (understanding the diversity of values and worldviews underpinning sustainable development);
• practical knowledge (environmental and social impact assessment tools);
• problem solving (linking theory to practice, responding to novel and unfamiliar problems); and
• audience awareness (presenting ideas effectively, responding to questions).
Overall, the module seeks to equip you for a wide range of careers through critical appraisal of key concepts, and developing a broad base of understanding in different policy arenas.
concepts, and developing a broad base of understanding in different policy arenas.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Summarise foundational literature on sustainable development
- 2. Explain in detail key theories and concepts underpinning sustainable development and their application in different contexts
- 3. Outline key theories and concepts regarding how policies develop, are appraised, and are contested
- 4. Apply knowledge and principles developed in workshops to evaluate and address sustainability issues in specific case studies
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Analyse and critically evaluate essential facts and theory across a sub-discipline of geography and sustainability science
- 6. Comprehend and assess different perspectives, value systems, and worldviews informing sustainable development
- 7. Synthesise material from a broad range of relevant areas to problem-solve sustainability issues
- 8. Demonstrate a self-reflective approach to learning
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Independently devise, sustain and communicate a logical and reasoned argument with sound, convincing conclusions
- 10. Work as part of a team and independently
- 11. Organise and present material and ideas effectively in different formats
- 12. Manage deadlines and targets
Syllabus plan
Indicative lecture/workshop content:
• Evolution of sustainable development
• Contemporary debates in sustainable development
• Complexity
• Social-ecological systems and resilience
• Nature’s values
• Environmental history
• Political ecology of sustainable development
• Economic growth, prosperity and human well-being
• Policy processes, advocacy, and law
• Sustainable futures
• Case studies and guest speakers covering issues of social-ecological sustainability
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 20 | Workshops including lectures, student-led discussions, debates and external speakers, focusing on key topics |
| Guided independent study | 130 | Additional research, reading and preparation for module assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short answer questions during lectures and seminars | Ongoing throughout the module | All | Peer assessment and oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 0 | 30 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 70 | 3000 words | 1-9, 11-12 | Written |
| Group oral presentation | 30 | 20 minutes | 2, 4-8, 10-12 | Written & oral |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 1-9, 11-12 | Referral/Deferral Period |
| Oral presentation | Audio recording | 2, 4-8, 10-12 | Referral/Deferral Period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to resubmit the original assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.
Where you have been referred/deferred for the oral presentation, you will be required to submit a PowerPoint presentation together with a recording of the oral presentation (15 minutes).
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Indicative reading:
- Folke C., Biggs R., Norström A., et al. (2016) Social-ecological resilience and biosphere-based sustainability science. Ecology & Society 21: 41.
- Forsyth T. (2003) Critical political ecology: the politics of environmental science. Routledge.
- IPBES (2019) Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Brondizio E., Settele J., Díaz S., and Ngo H. (editors). IPBES secretariat.
- Jackson, T. (2009) Prosperity without growth: economics for a finite planet. Earthscan.
- Meadows D. (2008) Thinking in systems: a primer. Chelsea Green Publishing.
- Nagendra H., Bai X., Brondizio E. et al. (2018) The urban south and the predicament of global sustainability. Nature Sustainability 1: 341-349.
- Preiser R., Schlüter M., Biggs R. et al. (2021) Complexity-based social-ecological systems research: philosophical foundations and practical implications. Chapter 2 in The Routledge Handbook of Research Methods for Social-Ecological Systems. Routledge.
- Raworth, K. (2018) Doughnut Economics. Cornerstone.
Key words search
Environment, sustainability, sustainable development, policy, impact assessment, resilience, growth and prosperity, ecosystem services, political ecology, wellbeing
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 30/05/2017 |
| Last revision date | 11/08/2020 |
