Global Sustainability Challenges

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Reference work in an appropriate manner.
• Plan, conduct, and report on sustainability issue investigations, including the use of secondary data.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Communicate appropriately to a variety of audiences in written, verbal and graphical forms.
• Identify individual and collective goals and responsibilities and performing in a manner appropriate to these roles.
• Develop an adaptable and flexible approach to study and work.
• Prepare, process, interpret and present data, using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques and packages.
• Recognise and respect the views and opinions of other team members.
• Develop the skills necessary for self-managed and lifelong learning (eg working independently, time management and organisation skills).
• Use the internet critically as a means of communication and a source of information.
• Identify and work towards targets for personal, academic and career development.
• Evaluate performance as an individual and a team member.
• Receive and respond to a variety of information sources (eg textual, numerical, verbal, graphical).

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply knowledge and understanding to complex and multidimensional problems in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
• Recognise and use multi and interdisciplinary theories, paradigms, concepts and principles.
• Analyse, synthesise and summarise information critically, including prior research.
• Recognise the moral and ethical issues of investigations and appreciating the need for professional codes of conduct.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The need for both a multidisciplinary and an interdisciplinary approach in advancing knowledge and understanding of sustainability, drawing, as appropriate, from across all academic disciplines.
• Issues concerning the availability and sustainability of resources, for example, the different value sets relating to the Earth's resources as commodities and/or cultural heritage.
• The terminology, nomenclature and classification systems used in sustainability.
• The contribution of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary studies to the development of knowledge of the world we live in.
• The applicability of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sustainability to the world of work.
• The contribution of different disciplines to debate on sustainability issues and how knowledge of these forms the basis for informed concern about the Earth and its people.
• Methods of acquiring, interpreting and analysing sustainability information with a critical understanding of the appropriate contexts for their use.

This module will typically follow the below broad structure, but due to the constantly evolving nature of global sustainability challenges the precise content is subject to emphasis on emerging topics in the broad theme of sustainability.

Defining sustainability

The past, current, emerging and future global sustainability challenges - where are we now, how did we get here, and what might the future hold?

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The key global sustainability challenges & solutions - this is the main content of the module and will address current critical multidisciplinary challenges such as sustainable diets, fast fashion, climate crisis, biodiversity collapse, a sustainable recovery from the covid-19 pandemic

Reflecting and communicating the sustainability challenge

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include:

The module will be delivered by lecture and workshop sessions. The sessions will be delivered by the module co-ordinators and other contributors where appropriate.

Directed reading, individual and group tasks, private study.

Learning activities include:

Attendance at and participation in lectures, workshops, seminars, and presentation events

Role play to understand the perspectives and constraints faced by different sustainability decision-makers.

Group-based research and presentations.

Self-directed learning oriented towards preparation of module assignments.

Relationship between teaching, learning and assessment methods and planned learning outcomes:

The teaching on this module is a mixture of formal contact hours of lectures, workshops, seminars, and presentation events within one semester. Interactive sessions will provide the overall framework for the module and review of topical case studies. Students will be supported to actively learn key theories and principles through the use of facilitated group and class exercises, supplemented by individual reading and session material.

Feedback and student support during module study:

Feedback will be an ongoing process throughout the module. Lecture, workshop, seminar and presentation sessions will incorporate and conclude with class questions regarding the content. Students will be provided with regular verbal feedback for all un-assessed class workshop sessions, comprising generic comments and analysis from both the module coordinators and student peers. This feedback will be given during and immediately after completion of the sessions. Feedback will be given for assessed exercises within the standard university feedback period. This feedback will summarise the work and provide constructive criticism of where the work is correct, and where there is scope for developing content, structure, delivery and use of reference material.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

General Resources. The multi and interdisciplinary nature of the module means there is no single core text. It is recommended that students seek specific resources to support their learning and work towards assessment. Maintaining an interest in ongoing issues via news media (e..g The Conversation), journals (e.g. Nature, Science), magazines (New Scientist and National Geographic), etc. is highly recommended. A range of contemporary articles and peer-reviewed papers will be recommended to the students as part of the pre-reading for the module, and a list of further reading will also be provided. Required background reading and articles will be available from the online learning site, Blackboard (www.blackboard.soton.ac.uk). Students will require access to IT facilities and the internet.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External