Postgraduate Course: Sustainability and Social Responsibility (PG) (EDUA11424)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education and Sport |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores the concepts of sustainability and social responsibility through a multidisciplinary approach, examining them from a scientific, social, economic, political and artistic viewpoint. This course will investigate the relationship between planetary boundaries, resource consumption and social development, and explore the range of interdisciplinary approaches to address these global challenges. It will also cover the topics of sustainability metrics, personal contributions and sustainable lifestyles, as well as considering systems thinking, ways of knowing, power and responsibility as well as systemic structures and biases that may hold us in particular ways of thinking, being and doing. |
| Course description |
Week 1: Exploring sustainability and social responsibility
Week 2: Thinking with systems
Week 3: Ways of knowing
Week 4: Power and responsibility
Week 5: Examining cases and consequences: Developing your group project
Week 6: Spheres of influence
Week 7: Moving towards action
Week 8: Futures thinking
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2026 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Online Activities 48,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
148 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course comprises two linked assessments:
1. Individual Reflective Assignment: equivalent to 2,000 words. (60%)
(Addresses LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5)
2. Interdisciplinary Group Project: equivalent to 1,200 words. (40%)
(Addresses LO3, LO4, LO5)
|
| Feedback |
1. Individual Reflective Assignment (Due: end of course) (60%): Students will engage in a process of reflection throughout the course supported by peers and tutors.
2. Interdisciplinary Group Project (Due: mid-course) (40%): Group-Assessment with group mark awarded. Students will participate in a Group project; feedback will be provided by peers and tutors. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically analyse the complexity and interconnectedness of sustainability challenges at local, national, and global levels.
- Critically reflect on your personal values and perspectives and examine how these relate to sustainability and social responsibility.
- Understand, reflect on and communicate effectively about issues related to sustainability, demonstrating awareness of diversity, difference and sameness, and understanding the importance of context and community in this area.
- Demonstrate your ability to appreciate a diversity of understandings of sustainability and how these are shaped by values, worldviews, disciplines and societal systems.
- Critically engage with explore interdisciplinarity through co-creative and collaborative approaches to knowledge production and exchange.
|
Reading List
| There are extensive readings and resources built into the on-line course as both core materials and extensions. As optional preparatory reading we recommend 'The World We'll Leave Behind' (2018) by Scott and Vare. It covers a range of the topics we will touch upon within the course so please do feel free to dip into it and return to it. It is available as an ebook in the library so please do not feel you need to buy a copy. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
On completion of the course students will be able to:
recognise, engage with and address social responsibility and sustainability issues and related ethical dilemmas, applying their own/organisational values to situations and choices.
seek personal and academic learning in order to contribute positively, ethically and respectfully to the world around them.
demonstrate a critical and discerning understanding of theories of sustainability and social responsibility in relation to an increasingly complex and uncertain planetary future.
undertake critical analysis, evaluation and/or synthesis of information, ideas, concepts, and issues within sustainability and social responsibility.
use skills associated with conveying complex information, analysis and argument through [group] presentation and written work to develop reasoned perspectives, effective and communication, and to engage and communicate with audiences creatively. |
| Keywords | Sustainability,Social Responsibility,Interdisciplinar |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Beth Christie
Tel: (0131 6)51 6031
Email: beth.christie@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Melania Chaverri Coto
Tel:
Email: mchaverr@ed.ac.uk |
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