Sustainable Development, 3.0 credits

Entry requirements

Entry requirement for studies on third-cycle education courses

• second-cycle degree,
  
  
  
• 240 credits in required courses, including at least 60 second-cycle
  
  credits, or
  
  
  
• acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other manner.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

• Give an overall description of the United N's 17 sustainability goals within Agenda 2030 and exemplify interrelations
  
  
  
• Identify a problem area linked to one of the 17 goals in Agenda 2030 and analyzethis problem area from a temporal /cultural/geographical perspective
  
  
  
• explain how the own field of research is affected by Agenda 2030.

• Obtain, interpret and compile information from scientific literature and the surrounding society, relevant to a defined problem area within Agenda 2030
  
  
  
• Develop and propose a solution for an identified problem area, based on information from relevant sources
  
  
  
• Use different presentation techniques to communicate goals related to Agenda 2030,
  
  
  
• Use digital communication tools
  
  
  
• Communicate solutions in English, both in writing and orally and
  
  
  
• analyze and scientifically discuss aspects of sustainable development within their own research area.

By the end of the course the students will be able to:

• highlight their own and others' values in relation to the societal challenges in Agenda 2030,
  
  
  
• relate to value conflicts from different perspectives and possible solutions within the identified problem area and
  
  
  
• analyze different values that form the basis for conflicts of interest within the own research area's sustainability issues.

Contents

The course is based on the UN's 17 sustainability goals and the course participants carry out in-depth work within one of the goals and broaden their knowledge in other sustainability goals by becoming familiar with the work of other groups.

Interprofessional communication skills are trained and each course participant's special skills should be integrated into the studies. The course includes project work with links to locally relevant social problems connected to Agenda 2030. Inaddition, in-depth study of the own research area's sustainability issues is included.

Educational methods

The pedagogical approach applied at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences is

student centered, problem based learning (PBL). The student takes responsibility

for his/her own learning, and seeks and evaluates information and knowledge based

on own queries and formulated problems. The role of the teacher is to guide and

support the students.

All teaching is in English. The course is performed in the form of group work in

Active Learning Classrooms, using digital communication tools. During the

semester, 2 hours per week from September through November are scheduled,

beside these meetings; the students are performing self-studying in groups or on

their own. The course ends with a sustainability conference where each group

makes poster presentations to a broader audience from the surrounding

community. Prior to poster presentations, the groups should through peer review

provide constructive feedback to another group's draft presentation. The posters

must be presented, by individual group members, in English.

The student assumes his/her own responsibility for his/her learning through an

active and processing approach to the learning tasks. The working methods

challenge the students to independently seek knowledge and to assess and evaluate

acquired knowledge in dialogue with others. Students work together in groups

based on reality-linked situations to develop their own learning, contribute to fellow

students' learning and to practice collaboration. In the course, inter-professional

learning is applied. Interprofessional learning means that students from several

professions learn with, about and from each other. This form of work stimulates and

supports the student's development of professional competence, as well as prepares

the student for inter-professional teamwork and collaboration in the coming

professional practice.

Examination

Examination takes place through continuous written and oral reporting in English individually and in groups: written and oral reports every two weeks on work progress (individually), as well as a written reflection on how the own research area is in relation to the Agenda 2030. The reflection is presented and discussed in a special seminar for course participants in the postgraduate course. Compilation of

the work takes place in poster form with associated oral presentation (in group). In addition, active participation is required in mandatory parts for passing the course.

Active participation means that the student contributes with work, input and/or own reflections relevant to the assignment. The mandatory elements of this course are group meetings and a sustainability conference. The group's mentor is a tentator

and assesses the performance of individual group members according to the course objectives.

Change of examiner

Students who have failed the course or part of the course twice are entitled to request another examiner for the following examination occasion.

Grading

Course literature

A list of recommended literature will be provided by the course coordinator before

the start of the course.

General information

The course is planned and carried out according to what is stated in this syllabus.

Course evaluation, analysis and suggestions for improvement should be fed back to

the Research and PhD studies Committee (FUN) by the course coordinator.

If the course is withdrawn or is subject to major changes, examination according to

this syllabus is normally offered at three occasions within/in close connection to the

two following semesters.