Foundations of Sustainable Development, University of Surrey

• Program name / towards what degree: MSc programmes on Sustainable Development, Corporate Environmental Management and Environmental Strategy.
• Length and format: One week intensive course
• Credits and evaluation: evaluated through 2 assignments on average per course (essays, group work, short writing assignments).
• Student profile: Very mixed. Many have backgrounds in science and technology, but a substantial number come from social sciences.
• Class size: 30-50
• Teachers’ background: Interdisciplinary; senior staff; backgrounds from science, engineering, economics, other social sciences.
• Course offered since: evolving over 5-10 years from previous courses
• Main learning outcomes: Detailed appreciation, understanding and capacity for critical investigation of sustainable development concepts and issues of practical implementation in a variety of sectors and contexts
• Topics addressed: fundamental issues in sustainability, including role of consumption in unsustainable change, ethical challenges, politics of SD
• Key reading materials:
  • pre-reading packages (papers and briefings)
  • core reading: for example, S Baker (2016), Sustainable Development, Routledge: London; T Jackson (2009), Prosperity without Growth, Earthscan: London; P Jacques (2015), Sustainability: the basics, Routledge: London
  • There is no comprehensive introductory textbook on sustainable consumption and behavioural change.
• Innovative approaches:
  • Use of films as basis for group discussion
  • Role-play exercises
  • Extensive range of senior guest speakers from business, public sector, civil society
  • Group research and presentation exercises
• Student feedback: Feedback is very positive, especially to the range of expert guest speakers engaged