Examination arrangement

Course content

The course introduces connections between the three different dimensions of sustainable transition (climate and environment, economy and social conditions), definitions of sustainability (for example planetary boundaries and the UN's sustainability goals) and challenges related to realizing the various goals. With a radically interdisciplinary approach, the course highlights nuanced understandings and challenges linked to work with the sustainability goals locally, nationally and globally. The course will address topics such as e.g. different technologies and products' environmental impact, different sustainability models and calculations, social challenges such as poverty, equality, cultural diversity and democratic participation and participation in sustainable transition. In this way, the course provides an increased understanding of both the complexity of and connections between techno-economic, ecological and socio-cultural challenges. Throughout the semester, the students are introduced to different perspectives on sustainability (for example planetary boundaries, the UN's sustainability goals) and current perspectives on these from technical and natural science and social sciences/humanities respectively. In addition there will be seminars and group work where the students work on a case/project that they develop themselves.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The candidate

• has knowledge about different definitions of sustainability, the connections between them, their challenges and paradoxes
• has advanced knowledge about the connection between sustainable development, societal change and technological development/innovation
• has good knowledge about written and oral dissemination of complex scientific information
• has knowledge about the particular challenges the various sustainability goals raise to problem solving/innovation in interdisciplinary groups, in addition to the ability to conduct and reflect upon such collaboration

Skills:

The candidate

• can critically interpret information and results and do case studies
• is able to work on complex societal challenges
• can present analyses in an interesting, convincing and understandable way
• has interdisciplinary collaborative competence and can contribute constructive in interdisciplinary processes

General competence:

The candidate

• has a general understanding of the concept of sustainability
• has collaborative competence

Learning methods and activities

The course is taught together with KULT2025, but KULT3025 has higher academic requirements for the project, and has a larger and more advanced curriculum. Further information will be provided at the start of class.

The course consists of two parts: One half consists of lectures where the students are introduced to different professional perspectives. The second half consists of seminars based on specific issues and/or work with projects.

Compulsory attencance (75%)

Compulsory assignments

• Two compulsory assignments
• Compulsory attendance 75%

Further on evaluation

The final work is a project report, based on group work. It will be evaluated as pass or fail. The compulsory assignments must be approved in order to get an evaluation. The assignments can be individual or collaborative work or presentations. If graded fail, the whole course must be taken again.

Required previous knowledge

Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Credit reductions