Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-14 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).
Overview
- Swedish nameHållbar utveckling
- CodeFFR161
- Credits7.5 Credits
- OwnerMPTSE
- Education cycleSecond-cycle
- Main field of studyEnergy and Environmental Systems and Technology
- DepartmentSPACE, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT
- GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail
Course round 1
- Teaching language English
- Application code 28126
- Maximum participants100
- Block schedule
- Open for exchange studentsNo
Credit distribution
Module | Sp1 | Sp2 | Sp3 | Sp4 | Summer | Not Sp | Examination dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0124 Project, part A 1.5 c Grading: UG | 1.5 c | ||||||
| 0224 Examination, part B 6 c Grading: TH | 6 c |
|
In programmes
- MPPDE - PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (elective)
- MPPDE - PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
- MPSES - SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (elective)
- MPSYS - SYSTEMS, CONTROL AND MECHATRONICS, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (elective)
- MPTSE - INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory)
Examiner
Göran Berndes- Full Professor, Physical Resource Theory, Space, Earth and Environment
Eligibility
General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Specific entry requirements
English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Course specific prerequisites
Previous studies in environmental sciences/engineering and sustainable development.
Aim
The aim of this course is to give students the opportunity to acquire a systems perspective on society of today, and based on this develop their insights into restrictions and possibilities that follow from the need to transform the industrial society to conform to a sustainable development. Besides attaining knowledge of the concept of sustainable development, including different perspectives on this concept, students will learn about the consequences of societal resource use, and about strategies for changing this use into a more sustainable direction.
Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
- Account for the meaning of sustainable development and its three principal dimensions: the ecological, the economic and the social dimension, including intergenerational justice;
- use a systems perspective, to describe sustainability challenges and possibilities for major technical systems and for their transformation to meet sustainability requirements;
- account for major restrictions and options for the use of resources and technologies from the standpoint of sustainable development;
- account for, on a basic level, socially and economically related conflicts of interests that may block implementation of sustainable development;
- account for strategies, international agreements and major policy instruments for a sustainable use of resources and ecosystem services;
- account for relevant analytical concepts, and have the capability to use these for analyzing issues related to sustainable development;
- account for basic ethical theory and apply it to analyze arguments and decisions on issues of sustainability.
Content
The course starts with a number of lectures giving perspectives on the concept sustainable development and on Man's interaction with nature from a historical perspective. Environmental ethics and intergenerational justice are discussed. After this, lectures are dedicated to providing systems perspectives on human-nature interactions and the societal metabolism in a sustainable development perspective. This includes lectures addressing sustainable use of land and other resources within agriculture and forestry, sustainable energy systems, as well as sustainable materials systems. Lectures in this part of the course also cover sustainable development and technical change, as well as climate agreements and connected international processes. In a third block of lectures - working for sustainability - guest lecturers present their own experience of working for sustainability in various functions in society. Earlier themes include environmental diplomacy and climate negotiations, work on eco-labeling, sustainability certification of forestry, and Agenda 21 work in cities/regions.Organisation
Lectures and group work are part of the course. The group work provide opportunities for the students to discuss and learn more about specific topics of relevance for sustainable development. Seminars and exercises are associated with the group work and the students prepare for these by completing tasks that are distributed by the teacher during the weeks before the seminars.Literature
"Sustainable development : nuances and perspectives" by Fredrik Hedenus, Martin Persson & Frances Sprei (Studentlitteratur) plus additional literature available through the course homepageExamination including compulsory elements
Written examination (6 hp)
Grading scale: Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail
Group work (1,5 hp)
Grading scale: Pass (3), Fail
A passing grade requires participation in all activities and passing all written submissions associated with the group work
The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.