MI2502 Introduction to Strategic Sustainable Development

The purpose of this course is to learn about and
apply core concepts of Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) to planning for sustainability.
This includes a theoretical understanding and practical application of a structured planning and decision-making model for solving real-world issues. Students will gain an understanding of the major sustainability challenges facing our society today, and learn the importance of taking a whole-systems perspective when trying to identify problems and plan solutions.

Prerequisites

Introduction to Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
or
Environmental strategy and sustainable development
or
Diploma Project Bachelor

Content

The course will cover:
• Current social and environmental problems viewed from a systems perspective.
• Foundational concepts for a systems understanding of sustainability.
• Principles for sustainability derived from basic scientific concepts.
• A framework for strategic planning towards sustainability.
• Concepts integral to an informed understanding of SSD, such as strategic management, macro-economics.
• Various tools for environmental and social
Sustainability in today’s society
• How to use a systems view and strategic planning for sustainable development
• Principles of sustainability stemming from basic science: thermodynamics, energy, biological systems and social systems
Module 2: Applications of SSD understanding
• Various tools and concepts currently in use for
sustainable development, and their individual
strengths and limitations.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student will be able to:

• give examples of and discuss the social and environmental challenges facing today’s society, and their causes.
• explain the major components of a framework for strategic sustainable development.
• apply the strategic planning tool (the ABCD Strategic Planning Process) to analyse an organization.
• discuss the relevance of different concepts to strategic sustainable development.
• describe various tools and analyse how they can best be utilized for strategic sustainable development.
• identify new tools and determine their relevance for strategic sustainable development.

Generic Skills

The following generic skills are trained in the course:
• Written and verbal communication
• Creativity and problem solving
• Apply knowledge in practical applications
• Cross-cultural and cross-sectoral learning
• Critical thinking
• Ability to work in teams

Course literature and other teaching material

Course literature and other teaching material

Learning methods

This course is offered to a wide range of graduate-level students from a variety of different educational backgrounds. The teaching climate is intended to be one of trust and openness to continual communication and constructive feedback between learning facilitators and students. Through videos, lectures, group dialogues, in-class exercises, online discussion forums, student presentations, and assigned readings, students will gain an understanding of the course content. Students will complete assignments on an individual or small group basis, and will demonstrate their learnings through written documents, group discussions, and presentations. There will be a final written examination.

Work placement

Project and lectures.

Teachers

Examiner
Henrik Ny

Course Manager
Marco Valente

Planned learning activities

Lectures, seminars and exercises.

Time allocation

On average, a student should study 200 hours to reach the learning outcomes. This time includes all the various available learning activities (lectures, self studies, examinations, etc.). This estimation is based on the fact that one academic year counts as 60 ECTS credits, corresponding to an average student workload of 1 600 hours. This may vary individually.

Assessments

Code	Title	ECTS credits	Grade
1210	Sustainability study: ABCD	2	F/P/3/4/5
1220	Sustainability study: Tools	2	F/P/3/4/5
1230	Examination	3.5	F/P/3/4/5

Grading

The course will be graded Fail, Pass, 3, 4 or 5 .

On request grades according to ECTS will be given.

Future exams

Exam date	Parts	Entry dates	Responsible	Place	Time
2013-06-13	1230	2013-05-14 - 2013-05-30	HNY	Karlskrona	15:00 - 20:00

To participate in a centrally coordinated examination, you must enroll in Student's Portal, no later than fifteen days before the examination.

Time and location for the examination will be published about 5 days in advance.

There might be other scheduled examinations. Information concerning these examinations are available in It's Learning or at other places that the person who is responsible of the course will refer to.

Course Evaluation

The course manager is responsible for the views of students on the course being systematically and regularly gathered and that the results of the evaluations in various forms affect the form and development of the course.