UCIL60312
Creating a Sustainable World: Interdisciplinary applications of the Sustainable Development Goals
- Semester 2
- Online delivery
- 15 credits
Introduction
"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it" Robert Swan, Author
This course, led by Professor Jennifer O'Brien, will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to address The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call from the United Nations for all countries to tackle, by 2030, the global challenges faced by humanity. The SDGs cover a wide range of challenges, with 17 goals backed up by 169 targets. The goals include poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and peace and justice. The SDGs are designed for everyone to play their part, including The University of Manchester and you, our students.
- Designed specifically for online learning offering a unique interactive experience.
- This unit is accessible to postgraduate taught students with a free-choice unit.
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About
"We have 12 years to save the planet" - United Nations
If we are to successfully achieve the SDGs by 2030, then we need to be able to work across traditional disciplines and in more collaborative ways.
This unit presents the concept of sustainable development and explains the basis of partnership working that underpins the SDG approach. Each SDG is explored through its own module, drawing on cutting-edge research carried out by world-leading experts across The University of Manchester, together with input from external experts and international policy-makers and practitioners.
It offers a unique opportunity to engage with multiple real-world challenges and develop applied knowledge and skill-sets that are highly prized by employers from the public, private and third sectors.
Unit details
What should I know about this unit?
Creating a Sustainable World - Interdisciplinary applications of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Course Unit Code
UCIL60312
Postgraduate students only.
Course Unit Details
This unit has been designed specifically for online learning and offers a unique interactive experience.
TRY AN ONLINE UCIL UNIT TASTER
Please note, the taster will give you example content in the Undergraduate version of this unit.
- Postgraduate
- 15 credits
- School of Environment, Education and Development
On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:
- Describe the key interlinked, interdisciplinary concepts and theories that underpin sustainable development (core modules 1 and 2).
- Apply those concepts and theories to critically examine the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Analyse diverse ways in which sustainable development plays out across different spaces and scales, including policy spheres, everyday lives, and infrastructures.
- Identify and defend their own social positioning in the world and feel empowered to make positive change.
- Sustainability and GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goals
- Sustainable Development Goals
SDG modules
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Good Health and Well-being
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Clean Water and Sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Reduce Inequalities
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life On Land
- Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
To find out more about each of the 17 Goals go to: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
- The unit is delivered entirely online via Canvas over one 12-week semester. Modules are released at intervals.
- Each module is led by a leading researcher from The University of Manchester and features leading contributors from around the world.
- The unit is highly interactive and uses case studies, imagery and video to deliver the learning material.
- You have the opportunity to engage in asynchronous seminar discussions drawing upon material they have studied that week and ‘live’ support seminars.
- Weekly optional drop in with GTAs.
- Applied research sustainable development Project set by external organisation - hosted by the University Living Lab www.universitylivinglab.org (2,000 - 2,500 words) - 70%
- Written research project proposal (1,000 words) - 20%
- Initial project interdisciplinary discussion via discussion board (2 x 200 word posts) - 10%
The unit is led by Professor Jennifer O'Brien (School of Environment, Education and Development).
It features over 80 expert contributors including:
- Professor David Hulme (Global Development Institute)
- Khalid Malik (The United Nations)
- Professor Kevin Anderson (Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research)
- Dr. Manisha Anatharaman (Saint Mary's College, California)
- Professor Amanda Bamford (Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences)
- Carly Koinage (UN Habitat)
- Professor Susie Miles (Manchester Institute of Education)
- Professor James Evans (Geography)
- Professor Michael Shaver (Manchester School of Materials)
- Professor Paulo Bartolo (School of Engineering)
Restriction: Students who have completed the UG version of this unit (UCIL20311) will not be able to take this unit at the PGT level.
This UCIL unit is designed to be accessible to postgraduate taught students from all disciplines who have a free-choice unit and approval from their Faculty/School and/or Programme Director.
UCIL units are credit-bearing and it is not possible to audit UCIL units or take them for additional/extra credits. You must enrol following the standard procedure for your School when adding units outside of your home School.
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You can also contact the UCIL office if you have any questions.
How to enrol
UCIL units are designed to be accessible to postgraduate taught students from all disciplines with your Faculty, School and/or Programme Directors approval. Depending on your School enrolment can be completed in one of two ways:
Enrolment using the Course Selection System
You may be able to enrol directly onto a UCIL unit using the Course Unit Enrolment System.
Enrolment via your School
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Please get in touch with the UCIL team at ucil@manchester.ac.uk if you have any questions.