Courses

Basics of sustainable development

Course overview

In this course, students develop an understanding of climate change, biodiversity loss, and their global impacts. The student becomes familiar with key ethical theories and apply them to complex sustainability issues.

The course highlights the importance of ecological, social, and economic sustainability and the student can apply these principles in practical contexts. The student becomes familiar with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and can explain their global relevance. Additionally, the student can apply the Inner Development Goals framework to practical situations to enhance sustainability and evaluate its impact.

Course content

Sustainability Challenges:

  • Climate change
  • Biodiversity loss
  • The state of democracy
  • Social polarisation
  • Conflicts

Ethical Theories and Sustainable Development:

• Ethical frameworks and personal ethical thinking in addressing wicked problems

Dimensions of Sustainable Development:

• Ecological
• Social (including cultural)
• Economic

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Overview of the SDGs
• Focus on key goals (climate action, reducing inequality, sustainable infrastructure, economic growth)
• Challenges related to the SDGs and the current status of their implementation

Inner Development Goals (IDGs):

• Individual and group-level competences for achieving sustainability

This is a self-paced online course. All materials (pre-recorded lectures, lecture materials, mini quizzes and the final exam) are available in the course’s Moodle workspace.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student:

  • Understands climate change and its impacts on the global environment and societies
  • Can analyse the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss and its effects
  • Is able to assess the state of democracy, social polarisation, and the development of crises in different parts of the world, and identify their impact on sustainable development
  • Is familiar with key ethical theories and can apply them to the resolution of wicked problems
  • Is able to develop their own ethical thinking and justify their ethical decisions in the context of sustainability challenges
  • Can analyse ethical questions in complex and unpredictable situations
  • Understands the significance of ecological, social, and economic sustainability and can apply this knowledge in practical contexts
  • Is familiar with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and can explain their global relevance
  • Is able to focus on selected key goals and analyse their implementation and related challenges
  • Can evaluate the current state of progress toward the goals and propose improvements
  • Understands the importance of individual and group-level competences in achieving sustainability and is able to develop their own personal and teamwork skills to promote sustainable development
  • Can apply the Inner Development Goals framework to practical situations to enhance sustainability and evaluate its impact
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