Course Syllabus
Sustainable Development in Northern Europe B |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Fall 2017 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Core Course - 3 credits |
| Core Course Study Tours: |
Germany |
| Major Disciplines: |
Environmental Studies, Public Policy, and Sustainability |
| Faculty Members: |
Inger Kærgaard |
| Program Director: |
Neringa B. Vendelbo - nb@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Monday & Thursday, 8.30 - 9.50 |
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 a more sustainable future.
The aims of the course are:
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To present a coherent and analytical framework for understanding the key ideas and issues
informing the sustainability debate in the global north (especially from a European perspective);
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To examine the current and potential roles of government, civil society, and business in shaping a
sustainable future;
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To provide a framework for understanding that links knowledge with practice and bridges the gap
between the classroom and the outside world;
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To examine and evaluate real world strategies for change.
Learning Objectives
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;
- 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 states;
- Locate a broad range of sources of information on sustainability, and be able to engage in critical and reflective thinking on a sustainability issue;
- Articulate your own values, positions, and possible strategies for a sustainable future.
- Be prepared for leading roles in dealing with the challenges of the 21st Century.
Faculty
Instructor: Inger Kærgaard holds a MSc in biology (University of Copenhagen, 2004). Focused on sustainability and conservation biology. Project manager at the University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland. Designer of a project in environmental education funded by the EU, another project funded by the Swiss government involving sustainable income generating activities for organic farmers in the Swiss Alps (2004-2006).
Worked for various NGOs on forest protection and sustainable development in Thailand and Indonesia (2007 and 2010). Taught biology in an upper secondary school in Denmark and was also involved in an education program for sustainability education (2010-2013). Organized two photo exhibitions on forest issues. The exhibitions were supported by Danida and were based on qualitative research which Inger carried out in South East Asia (2009 and 2012). Inger is engaged with sustainability in many different ways: in 2014 she co-funded a bee-coop with funding from the Copenhagen Municipality, she has a share in a coop farm and also she has a share in a value-based bank. With DIS since 2014.
Readings
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There will be reading from Susan Baker’s “Sustainable Development” (2006), Tim Jackson’s “Prosperity without Growth” (2009) and also from Jeffrey D. Sach’s “The Age of Sustainable Development” (2015). Reports from public institutions will also be included (for instance: “Good, Better, Best – The City of Copenhagen’s Bicycle Strategy 2011-2025”, CPH 2025 Climate Plan: A Green, Smart and carbon Neutral City (2012), including a report from Mondaymorning: The Nordic Model: Local government, global competitiveness in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden (2012)). Furthermore scientific papers are included in the reading (for instance: Stichele, M.V., Mobilising the financial sector for a sustainable future (2015), Mont et al.(2014): Nudging - A tool for sustainable behavior?, Wand Z. et al (2016): Take responsibility for electronic waste disposal, Höhne N. et al. (2016). The Paris Agreement: resolving the inconsistency
between global goals and national contributions, Hilten I. & Kerr O.: The Paris Agreement: China’s ‘New Normal’ role in international climate negotiations). -
Sometimes we will also read and discuss newspaper articles;
- We will also use different webpages:
- http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs
- http://en.alternativet.dk
- http://www.sustainwellbeing.net/gpi.html
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All will be in pdf form or with links on canvas.
Field Studies
September 27, field study 1: We will go to The Doll Living Lab, where we will have a presentation by Teddy Sibbern Larsen TBC.
Addressing the needs of the emerging smart and connected cities, DOLL Living Lab is set out to create an innovative playground and transparency in the new complex markets. DOLL is the largest Living Lab for outdoor lighting and Smart City in Europe.
See more at the webpage: http://www.lightinglab.dk/uk/
December 6th, field study 2: We will be visiting the Greencubator, which is a wokring platform for sustainability related small starts-ups.
More will follow...
Guest Lecturers
August 31th, guest lecture 1: Head of the Alternative party central board, Nials Bay - Foged will come and share his experience with the process of changing the political culture.
The Alternative party are working for a Denmark with 100% renewable energy supply, 100% organic farming in Denmark, shorter work weeks for all etc.
October 19, guest lecture 2: As the head of the program for Food, Climate and sustainability in Lejre Municipality Tina Unger is in the epicenter of the work with establishing the first organic municipality in Denmark!
Study Tours
Core Course week and the Long Study Tour are integral parts of the core course as we take the classroom on the road and see how theory presented in the classroom is translated into 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 Germany.
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. The dates for core course week, including short study tour, and your long study tour are below for your reference.
Core Course Week: September 11th – September 16th, 2017
Long Study tour to Germany: October 8th- Ocotber 13th, 2017
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.
Short study tour to Malmö and Lund:
A three day tour to Malmö and Lund, Sweden. This former industrial shipyard has recently been
regenerated into an attractive and sustainable residential and business district running on 100% renewable energy. We will be taking public transportation and eating at sustainable restaurants that serve organic or local food whenever possible. Past visits have included S:t Hansgården, an environmental education center, the Scandinavian Green Roof Institute, and Söderåsen National Park. You will develop a deeper insight into Sweden through exposure to the culture, history, and socioeconomic climate of the region and engage in your personal learning process outside the classroom by actively participating and challenging your current ideas and assumptions.
Long study tour to Hamburg & Berlin:
A six day tour to Hamburg and Berlin, Germany. Hamburg was the European Green city in 2011 and
Germany is a world leader in greening the energy sector. We will be taking public transportation and eating at sustainable restaurants, whether they serve organic or local food, or run on renewable energy, whenever possible. When in Berlin, we will also go on an alternative walking or biking tour of the city. A goal of the tour is to compare and contrast sustainability discourses and practices in Europe with those in the USA.
Students will be encouraged to examine the different approaches of mainstream and grassroots initiatives, as well as questions of scale, in implementing sustainable practices, and gain specific awareness of these issues in a German context. Specific visits have previously included national-level policy organizations, international NGOs, and examples of urban (re)development.
Approach to Teaching
Class sessions will combine lectures (including guest lecturers) and discussions, which examine theory, current debate, and case studies. The classroom experience will be enhanced by experiential learning, through cooperative learning methods, along with field studies and study tours. With such a broad topic, it is impossible to cover all issues and themes, therefore topics are selective rather than comprehensive.
Evaluation
Case Studies 1 & 2:
Writing two case studies where the main idea is to embed learning of key concepts in a way that simulates a real-life Project Briefing – something that you may encounter in the world as an employee at NGOs, government, or think-tanks etc. Combined, these exercises are worth 40% of your total assessment.
The assignment is designed as a two-person, group exercise – so please feel free to pair-up with someone you are happy to work with. Tip: sometimes it can help to work with someone that has complementary skills and perspectives, which will enable you to produce even greater results!
You are free to choose any cases studies that you encounter from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, or any other location in Northern Europe.
The themes you choose are up to you – the key point is to be consistent across your case studies – to ensure that meaningful comparisons and lessons can be drawn between your case studies – so, please make sure the theme you choose is interesting and motivating for you to follow through on.
Case study 3/ Magazine Article:
The last assignment before the final exam is a positive future story writing exercise, where we pretend to have reached 2025. Imagination plays a huge role in changing world situations. If no one can imagine a change, it will not happen! You will work on a case you know well, maybe one of your first case studies and then you will look in the future!
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
|
Case study 1 (Country A, 5 pages) |
20% |
|
Case study 2 (Country B, 5 pages) |
20% |
|
Magazine Article (future positive realistic story, 4 pages) |
10% |
|
Written, sit-down final exam |
25% |
|
Participation |
25% |
Participation will be based on the following criteria:
- Taking an active role in class discussions
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Attendance
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Preparation for each class
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Reading all assigned texts
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On-time submission of all class assignments
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Active participation in study tours and field studies
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 classes, guest lectures, workshops and field studies. If you must miss a class for religious holidays, medical reasons, or other valid reasons, you must let us know as far in advance as possible of the absence and obtain information about the work you must do to keep up in class. If you miss a class for any other reason (sudden illness, family emergency, etc.), you should get in touch with us as soon as possible and arrange to make up the work missed.
It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. Late papers or projects will be marked down with 1/3 of a grade for each day it is late.
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.
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISaborad.org (Links to an external site.)
Course Summary:
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