Creating a Sustainable World - 21st Century Challenges

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 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.

On successful completion of the unit you will be able to:

• Describe the key interlinked, interdisciplinary concepts and theories that underpin sustainable development, as presented by the SDGs.
• Analyse diverse ways in which sustainable development plays out across different spaces and scales, including policy spheres, everyday lives, and infrastructures.
• Identify and defend your own social positioning in the world and feel empowered to make positive change.

10 Credits

You will take the two core modules. The first is about Sustainability and Goal 17 - Partnerships to achieve the goals. The second is about the Sustainable Development Goals. You can then choose six of the UN's Sustainable Development Goal modules shown below. Support and advice will be given about which goals to choose based upon your degree.

Core Modules

• 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
• Reduced 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 Blackboard (with one optional face-to-face session). It is highly interactive and flexible and adopts a blend of approaches including video inputs, discussion space and case studies.

Students will have a choice of format to present the final assessment. All students will study 2 core modules and will then choose their learning pathway, studying 6 modules . Students will engage in weekly discussions drawing upon material they have studied that week.

Each module is led by a leading researcher from across The University of Manchester and features leading contributors from around the world.

1. Ongoing module assessment (20%)

These are small tasks at more or less weekly intervals including a proposal for assignment 3 (on which you will receive feedback) and short discussion questions delivered online via Blackboard

1. Sustainability analysis exercise. 250 words. (20%)
2. Inform the world about a sustainable development issue in choice of format. 1500 words. (60%)