Course Syllabus

Sustainable Development in Northern Europe A

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Norway FA15Sm.JPG

Semester & Location:

Fall 2017- DIS Copenhagen

Type & Credits:

Core

Core Course Study Tours:

Norway

Major Disciplines:

Environmental Studies, Public Policy, and Sustainability

Faculty Member:

Emmanuel Gentil

Program Director:

Neringa Vendelbo - nb@dis.dk

Time & Place:

Mondays and Thursdays 8:30 – 9:50, Nørregade 7-A21

 

Description of course

Sustainable development has emerged as one of the most important discourses of the 21st century. It is a multi-dimensional concept, which aims to integrate environmental, social, and economic objectives, and no single academic discipline definitively addresses its problems or solutions. This course explores some of the key issues and themes of sustainable development, as well as pragmatic and practical strategies for promoting more sustainable futures.

The course aims are

  • To examine the current and potential roles of government, civil society, and business in shaping a sustainable future;
  • To provide a framework for understanding that links knowledge with practice and bridges the gap between the classroom and the outside world;
  • To examine real world strategies for change.

Learning objectives of the course

By the end of this course you will be able to …

  • Comprehend the underlying concepts, debates, and issues informing various actors, agencies, and activities working to realize sustainability goals;
  • Show a critical awareness of the diverse and contested meanings of sustainable development ideas and practices;
  • Show a critical awareness of the tensions between economic growth and environmental degradation, as well as the range of discourses that address these important issues;
  • Identify a broad range of Danish and European stakeholders and activities currently shaping the sustainability agenda;
  • Compare and contrast sustainability discourses and practices in Denmark and Europe with those in your home countries;
  • Locate a broad range of sources of information on sustainability and to be able to engage in critical and reflective thinking on a number of sustainability issues; and
  • Articulate your own values and possible strategies for a sustainable future.

Faculty: Emmanuel Gentil

Ph.D. in environmental engineering, DTU, Denmark, 2011. Independent environmental consultant. Senior Consultant at Copenhagen Resource Institute, for the European Environment Agency and for the European Commission on waste management policy in EU. Ph.D. School Manager and Ph.D. researcher at DTU, Denmark 2006-2011. Master of business strategy and environmental management, Bradford. With DIS since 2013.

Reading List

WWF (2014). Living planet report Summary.

WWF (2016). Living planet report

European Commission (2016). Sustainable Development Policy in the EU

European Commission (2016). Thematic Sustainable Development Policy in the EU

Norden (2013). A Good Life in a Sustainable Nordic Region?

Skene & Murray (2015). Sustainable Economics: Context, Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century Practitioner. 480 pp. Greenleaf. (Available Canvas)

Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2013) Towards the Circular Economy

Sovacool (2013). Energy policymaking in Denmark: Implications for global energy security and sustainability

World Economic Forum (2012) Sustainable Transportation Ecosystem (summary)

Lockton (2013) Design for sustainability: making green behaviour easy

Additional reading
Science Env Policy
(20 environmental topics covered from "Agriculture" to "water". Great resource of emerging scientific papers)

Field studies

Field studies are visits or workshops lasting half a day. These field studies are an important, and mandatory, part of the course in order to experience a real life situation or to interact with external experts.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017, 8:30-12:30: TBC

Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 13:00-17:00: Phone teardown workshop – Understanding the sustainability challenges of your phone. Location TBC.

Study tours

Core Course week and study tours are an integral part of the core course as we take the classroom on the road and see how theory presented in the classroom translates to practice in the field. You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours, a short study tour during Core Course Week and a long study tour to a relevant European destination.

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Core Course Week: Monday, September 11 – Saturday, September 16, 2017

Long Study tour to Norway: Sunday, October 08 – Saturday, October 14, 2017

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Short Study Tour during Core Course Week (Thursday, Sept. 14-Saturday, Sept. 16)

A three-day tour to Sønderborg and Ærø.

Visits will include:

  • Climate mitigation & Adaptation strategy discussion in Sønderborg (ProjectZero)
  • Marstal Solar Heating Plant
  • Wind turbines at Rise Mark
  • Æroskøbing District Heating Plant
  • Vesteraas Ecological Farm
  • Rise Organic Brewery

Long Study Tour to Norway (Sunday, Oct. 08 – Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017)

A six-day tour to Norway

On our six-day tour, we will be exploring sustainability strategies in Oslo and rural Norway while experiencing Norwegian landscapes and cultures.

Visits will include:

  • Learning about Oslo's waterfront development
  • Statkraft (energy utility)
  • Ministry of Petroleum and Energy
  • Oslo Municipality (Sustainability strategy)
  • Experiencing the mountainous regions of Telemark
  • Museums in Rjukan and Oslo

Expectations for study tours

  • Participate in all activities
  • Engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to achieving the learning objectives
  • Respect the destination, the speakers, DIS staff, and your fellow classmates
  • Represent yourself, your home university, and DIS in a positive light

 While on a program study tour DIS will provide hostel/hotel accommodation, transportation to/from the destination(s), approx. 2 meals per day, and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your area of study or the destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary prior to departure.

Travel policies: You are required to travel with your group to the destination. If you have to deviate from the group travel plans, you need approval from the program director and the study tours office prior to departure. You are free to return to Copenhagen on your own if you choose to do so, but must stay with the group through the last visit and inform your study tour leaders of your plans in advance. 

Approach to Teaching

The course consists of a diversity of teaching formats, including formal lecturing, discussion and debate. The teaching material will include videos, book chapters, articles and reports.

In order to facilitate active participation in class, each of you will be asked to talk about news articles relevant to the subject during the first 10 minutes of each class. A list of sources will be provided. It is your responsibility to do the requested reading and watch the videos. This exercise will benefit the whole class by allowing us to have more informed discussions and thereby learn from each other.

Grading

You will receive written instructions in class regarding individual assignment details.

Article presentation (Evernote) 15%
Core course week 5%
Long Study Tour Assessment  15%
Final Exam 30%
General Participation  20%
Short essay  15%

Participation will be based on the following criteria:

  • Attendance
  • Active participation in class discussions
  • Preparation for each class
  • Reading all assigned texts
  • On-time submission of all class assignments
  • Active participation in study tours and field studies

 **The final exam will take place on Date to be confirmed.** 

-To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work.-

 

Disability and resource statement: Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this.  In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Policies

Attendance – You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss multiple classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified and they will follow-up with you to make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but in the case of multiple absences you will need to provide a doctor’s note.

Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others.   Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Laptop and phones policy: You are allowed to use computers in class unless specified by the instructor. Phones are not to be used during class, field studies, or during visits when on study tour.

-Schedule of classes, readings to be done for each class, and assignment in due dates.-

Course Summary:

Date Details Due