THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences)

Postgraduate Course: Global Challenges: Integrating Sustainable Development SLICC (Environment) (PGGE11287)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryDuring this course students will develop a project that integrates knowledge from the fields of global health, development and environment to address the cross-disciplinary sustainable development challenges and strengthens research skills.
Course description This 20-credit course will provide students with an opportunity to integrate the Sustainable Development learning gained in their three certificates (Health, Development and Environment), and apply it to address problems and challenges in the real world.

Students will create their own learning using the Student-Led Individually Created Course (SLICC) approach.

They will strengthen research skills and gain expertise in synthesising knowledge.

They will plan, propose, carry out, reflect on and evaluate a piece of work from their own contexts, encompassing the cross-disciplinary nature of sustainable development.

The SLICC framework requires that students use the generic learning outcomes to articulate their learning in their own defined project, reflect frequently using a blog, and collect and curate evidence of their learning in an e-portfolio. They receive relevant formative feedback on their project proposal and the literature review, which part of their summative assessment for the course. All this is with the guidance of an academic mentor.

The course will encourage critical appraisal of students¿ own practical experiences and allow them to reflect on their learning in the context of the cross-disciplinary nature of sustainable development practice.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Only available to final year students in the MSc Global Challenges.
Students must have passed 120 credits with an overall average of 60% or above
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Online Activities 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 194 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Final submission - 100%

The final submission should illustrate independent critical thinking, should include a literature based analysis (up to 2,000 words), and be equivalent to a 6,000 word piece of rigorous analysis.

As a possible alternative to conventional analysis outputs such as essays and policy reports, students may choose to develop other creative and innovative outputs (for example, documentary video). Pending discussion with the designated mentor, the creative approaches toward project outputs would involve a creative output. In all cases a complementary reflective component is required equivalent to a 1,500 words.

Formative elements include:
- Identifying individual learning outcomes
- Project proposal
- Draft literature review and project outline
- Reflective blogs
Feedback Students will receive focused feedback from their mentors for two key components: project proposal and the literature review with project outline. Students will also receive further feedback to their reflective blogs from the course tutor.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an in-depth critical understanding and analysis of the cross-disciplinary nature of global challenges, drawing out the complexities and wider implications
  2. Apply relevant skills and approaches gained during the global challenges programme to effectively and critically explore your chosen sustainable development issue
  3. Demonstrate how you have used your experiences in this project to critically develop personal and intellectual autonomy
  4. Demonstrate appropriate approaches to communication of global challenge issues to a targeted audience
  5. In your self-assessment critically review, evaluate and reflect upon your knowledge, skills and practices in addressing global challenges
Reading List
Learning resources are provided online. These resources include guidance to students on: reflective learning and reflective models; generating their own specific focused learning outcomes from the generic learning outcomes; collecting and curating evidence of their learning using an e-portfolio; writing reflective reports on their learning; reflective blog and webfolio. Bassot, B. The Reflective Journal, Palgrave. 2nd Ed.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills During this course students will have to demonstrate the ability to work independently and synthesise information gained in the courses that form the Masters in Global Challenges. Their knowledge and understanding of approaches to global challenges will continue to develop. They will also learn generic approaches/skills such as planning, time-keeping, critically analysing activities and evaluation skills, alongside research skills such as critical interpretation. Since the course is distance learning, it will contribute to their IT, writing and communication skills. The pedagogy approach will develop their capacity to reflect effectively and critically, and to articulate their learning.
KeywordsIntegration of knowledge,reflexive learning,cross-disciplinary,sustainable development practice
Contacts
Course organiserDr Peter Alexander
Tel: (0131 6)50 9090
Email: Peter.Alexander@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Louisa King
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: Louisa.King@ed.ac.uk
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