Undergraduate Course: Sustainable Development Goals: History, Progress and Beyond 2030 (EFIE08008)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh Futures Institute |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | As we approach the year 2030, the deadline for the United Nations Sustainable Development goals (THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (https://sdgs.un.org/goals), you will reflect on their history, their purpose, progress, and question the core philosophy of sustainability. You will learn about the SDGs from the perspective of different parts of the world, different disciplines, stakeholders and generations. After this course you will look at the SDGs critically, from many different angles and explore alternative approaches that might replace them after 2030. |
| Course description |
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of global goals intended to be achieved by 2030 for 'peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future' (https://sdgs.un.org/goals). Now that 2030 is fast approaching... how well have we done in terms of achieving these and what will come after? This course aims to facilitate discussion between students from a range of different backgrounds. We will introduce and guide you through the SDGs, what they are, where they came from and why they matter to you, the University and the planet.
Sustainable development and the SDGs are broad, context dependent and interdisciplinary. This is at the heart of this course. Through short, pre-recorded lecturers from experts in different disciplines, to critical discussions of the Universities' own policies, this course will break down this complex area into core principles, academic skills, and authentic case studies. The SDGs guide activity around the world, and this too is at the centre of this course - critically exploring these goals from different epistemic, political and cultural perspectives and giving you the student room to bring your own experiences to debates and discussions.
The course content is designed around understanding the historical context of the SDGS from industrialisation and colonialism, philosophy, global governance, international relations and funding. We look at progress: how do we measure or monitor the SDGS, what data is used, what is missing? We bring in authentic case studies from a wide range of geographic regions, delivered in an interactive, active learning approach. We also look at the link between theory and practice within the University of Edinburgh.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 48 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 24,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11,
External Visit Hours 6,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
153 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Formative assessment:
1. Set of MCQs on the SDGs
2. An SDG 'bingo' exercise discussing trade-offs and synergies
3. Four Tutorial sessions across the duration of the course covering a range of key skills required for the summative assessment
4. In-person citizen's assembly
Summative assessment:
This proposal combines 3 tasks into one assessment. Learning Outcomes are tested across the 3 tasks:
Part 1: Group Project - Pitch Presentation
Part 2: Citizen's Assembly Simulation
Part 3: Reflective blog
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| Feedback |
The formative assessment activities have be assigned to help facilitate the flow of feedback to students prior to their summative assessments. The SDG bingo will enable students to explore the SDGs as presented by the UN in an informal way and elicit critical discussion of these goals in a non-confrontational manner. The 4 tutorials across the course will provide a space to discuss summative assessments, practice the skills needed for these and seek and receive feedback. By including attendance at these tutorials and the final debate in the formative requirements it ensures students are as well-equipped as they can be for undertaking the summative assessments.
Whilst there will be no formal feedback as such on these activities, they provide the space and time to reflect on summative assessments in good time, prior to their submission dates.
Feedback on summative assessments will be in the form of written feedback, based on the key tasks, the common marking scheme, and a marking rubric which will allow detailed feedback the student can draw on in their academic development. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the scope, aims, concepts, models, and main themes of the sustainable development goals.
- Undertake critical analysis, evaluation of concepts, ideas, information in relation to common understandings of SDGs.
- Use and evaluate numerical and graphical data to measure progress towards selected key SDG targets.
- Work with others to acquire an understanding of the need for collaboration at community, national and international levels to achieve the SDGs.
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Reading List
https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Pradhan P, Costa L, Rybski D, Lucht W, Kropp JP. A Systematic Study of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Interactions. Earth¿s future. 2017;5(11):1169-1179. doi:10.1002/2017EF000632
Folke C, Biggs R, Norström AV, Reyers B, Rockström J. Social-ecological resilience and biosphere-based sustainability science. Ecology and society. 2016;21(3):41-. doi:10.5751/ES-08748-210341
Moffatt, I., Hanley, N. and Wilson, M. D. (2001) Measuring and Modelling Sustainable Development. Parthenon Publishing Group: London. ISBN 9781842140086. Chap 3
Lawson S. International Relations. Third edition. Polity Press; 2017.
Susskind L. Environmental Diplomacy¿: Negotiating More Effective Global Agreements. (Ali SH (Saleem H, Hamid ZA, eds.). Oxford University Press; 2014.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course emphasised the role of the SDGs in a broad range of aspects of a student's life and encourages them to look beyond 2030 to instil the long timescale of the SDGs and encourage lifelong learning. The global nature of the teaching and case studies as well as the student engagement embedding in the course supports outlook and engagement. This course is designed to develop the skills of enquiry - looking at the principles of sustainability development from many perspectives critically. Embedded throughout this course are opportunities that encourage students to bring their own experiences and areas on interest into the teaching, creating a link to personal and intellectual autonomy. |
| Keywords | EFI,Sustainable Development,Level 8,UG,Sustainable Development Goals,2030,United Nations,17 Goals |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Steph Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 6096
Email: Steph.Smith1@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Matt Bryant
Tel:
Email: Matt.Bryant@ed.ac.uk |
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