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Blekinge Institute of Technology
Department of Strategic Sustainable Development
Revision: 3
Reg.no:
Course syllabus
Strategic Sustainable Development
Strategic Sustainable Development
12.5 credits (12,5 högskolepoäng)
Course code: SL2533
Main field of study: Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
Disciplinary domain: Technology
Education level: Second-cycle
Specialization: A1N - Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Language of instruction: English
Applies from: 2017-08-01
Approved: 2017-05-06
1. Descision
This course is established by Dean 2017-03-01. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Strategic Sustainable Development 2017-05-06 and applies from 2017-08-01.
2. Entry requirements
A Bachelor’s Degree or a professional qualification of 180 credits and English B.
3. Objective and content
3.1 Objective
The purpose of the course is for the student (1) to develop deepened knowledge about and understanding of society’s sustainability challenges and the basic reasons for these (2) to develop deepened knowledge about and understanding of a structuring and coordinating methodology for strategic sustainable development including its scientific foundations, and (3) to develop skills in applying the methodology and in critically reflecting upon it in relation to commonly cited concepts, methods and tools of relevance to strategic sustainable development.
3.2 Content
The course contains content related to:
- Sustainability challenges such as climate change, reduced biological diversity, eutrophication, and reduced trust and increasing inequality in society.
- A structuring and coordinating methodology for strategic sustainable development (FSSD).
- Scientific foundations for ecological and social sustainability such as scientific laws, biogeochemical cycles, theories of human needs, social resilience and trust theory.
- Research areas related to strategic sustainable development such as systems thinking, complex systems, economic theory and governance.
- Concepts, methods and tools for analysis, assessment, reporting, follow-up and planning within the area of sustainability (such as ecological footprints, factor X, zero emissions, ISO 14001, planetary boundaries, etc.) and how they relate to the FSSD.
4. Learning outcomes
The following learning outcomes are examined in the course:
4.1. Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the course the student will be able to:
- Describe society’s sustainability challenges and their underlying causes.
- Describe and reflect on the major components of a methodology for strategic sustainable development (FSSD).
- Discuss scientific concepts relevant to Ecological Sustainability.
- Discuss scientific concepts relevant to Social Sustainability
- Reflect on the relevance of related disciplines in supporting a strategic shift towards a sustainable society.
- Identify and describe different tools, methods and concepts within the field of sustainable development and compare and contrast how these relate to the FSSD.
***Abilities and skills***
On completion of the course the student will be able to:
- Use the FSSD to structure and coordinate knowledge, concepts, methods and tools for analysis, assessment, and planning within the area of sustainability.
***Judgment and approach***
On completion of the course the student will be able to:
- Assess and critically relate to different theories, concepts, methods and tools of relevance to strategic sustainable development.
5. Learning activities
The teaching in the course includes lectures, workshops, supervision, group dialogues, individual project assignments, group works and reflection individually and in groups. The lectures introduce theories, concepts, methods and tools. These are deepened, applied, integrated and reflected upon through the other learning items. Teachers with many different scientific backgrounds, professional experience and perspectives take part in the course. The students’ different educational backgrounds, professional experiences and cultural backgrounds are also taken advantage of in the learning process. They are trained in receiving and giving criticism from many different perspectives. Supervised group dialogues aim at cross-fertilization of the individuals’ different expertise and experiences.
6. Assessment and grading
Modes of examinations of the course
| Code | Module | Credit | Grade |
| 1710 | Take-home examination | 3.5 credits | AF |
| 1720 | Written assignments | 5 credits | AF |
| 1730 | Project assignment | 4 credits | GU |
The course will be graded A Excellent, B Very good, C Good, D Satisfactory, E Sufficient, FX Failed result, a little more work required, F Fail.
The final grade is weighted from the partial grades on the respective examination items. A Pass on all items is required to obtain a final grade. To be graded, the project assignment and the individual assignments must be submitted on-time. Late submissions, as well as poor-participation in project group activities, is considered as a fail for that submission opportunity, unless otherwise agreed with the course examiner. Two opportunities to perform failed assignments are offered within the next learning period. All submission deadlines are outlined in the Course PM, which is handed out at the beginning of the course. Further opportunities to perform failed assignments are provided at the next offerings of the course.
The information before a course occasion states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed.
An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.
7. Course evaluation
The course evaluation should be carried out in line with BTH:s course evaluation template and process.
8. Restrictions regarding degree
The course can form part of a degree but not together with another course the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.
9. Course literature and other materials of instruction
Robèrt K-H., Broman G., Waldron D., Ny H., Byggeth S., Cook D., Johansson L., Oldmark J., Basile G., Haraldsson H., MacDonald J., Moore B., Connell T., Missimer M., Johnson, P. and Daly, E., Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability, Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden, 2015.
Compendium with articles and other material.
10. Additional information
This course replaces SL2509
This is not a legal document. If you would like a copy of the legal decision regarding this course plan, contact the registrar at Blekinge Institute of Technology.