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Blekinge Institute of Technology
Department of Strategic Sustainable Development
Revision: 2
Reg.no: BTH-4.1.14-0427-2024
Course syllabus
Foundations for Strategic Sustainable Development
Foundations for Strategic Sustainable Development
7.5 credits (7,5 högskolepoäng)
Course code: SL2567
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: 2024-03-19
Approved: 2024-03-19
1. Descision
This course is established by Dean 2023-12-08. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Strategic Sustainable Development 2024-03-19 and applies from 2024-03-19.
2. Entry requirements
Admission to the course requires 120 completed credits. English 6.
3. Objective and content
3.1 Objective
The purpose of the course is for the student to develop 1) knowledge about, and understanding of society’s sustainability challenges and the basic reasons for these, 2) knowledge about, and understanding of a structuring and coordinating methodology for strategic sustainable development, including its scientific foundations, and 3) skills in critically reflecting on a structuring and coordinating methodology for strategic sustainable development.
3.2 Content
The course contains:
- sustainability challenges such as climate change, reduced biological diversity, eutrophication, and reduced trust and increasing inequality in society.
- the framework for strategic sustainable development (FSSD) as a structuring and coordinating methodology for strategic sustainable development.
- scientific foundations of 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 and economic theory.
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 and reflect on society’s sustainability challenges and their underlying causes.
- describe and reflect on the major components of a methodology for strategic sustainable development (FSSD).
- describe and explain scientific concepts relevant to ecological and social sustainability.
4.2. Competence and skills
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- communicate and discuss with a variety of peers, in writing and orally, about the sustainability challenge and what it means to be strategic in this context.
- use the FSSD to structure and coordinate knowledge, concepts, methods and tools for analysis, assessment, and planning within the area of sustainability.
4.3. Judgement and approach
On completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- critically discuss core concepts of strategic sustainable development and justify one´s approach in the context of strategic sustainable development.
- critically reflect on how different strategic sustainable development concepts relate to one´s individual field of study/work.
5. Learning activities
The learning activities in this online course include recorded lectures and webinars, dialogues, and discussion forums in real time as well as individual assignments, group work and reflection individually and in groups. Students are also provided with additional support materials and guidance for their learning activities if needed. The lectures introduce theories, concepts, methods, and tools. These are deepened, applied, integrated, and reflected upon through the other learning activities. Teachers with many different scientific backgrounds, professional experiences 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.
6. Assessment and grading
Modes of examinations of the course
| Code | Module | Credit | Grade |
| 2410 | Presentation | 1.5 credits | GU |
| 2420 | Group Written Assignment | 1.5 credits | GU |
| 2430 | Written Assignment 1 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2440 | Written Assignment 2 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2450 | Written Assignment 3 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2460 | Written Assignment 4 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2470 | Written Assignment 5 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2480 | Written Assignment 6 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2490 | Written Assignment 7 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2491 | Written Assignment 8 | 0.5 credits | GU |
| 2492 | Written Assignment 9 | 0.5 credits | GU |
The course will be graded G Pass, UX Failed result, a little more work required, U Fail.
Written examination may be followed up with an oral examination.
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, Karl-Henrik, Göran Broman, David Waldron, Henrik Ny, Sophie Hallstedt, David Cook, Lena Johansson, Elaine Daly, Jonas Oldmark, George Basile, Hördur Haraldsson, Jamie MacDonald, Brendan Moore, Tamara Connell, Merlina Missimer, and Pierre Johnson. 2019. Sustainability Handbook. Lund: Studentlitteratur. ISBN 978-91-44-11595-5.
Compendium with articles and other material.
10. Additional information
This course replaces SL2560
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.