Course Syllabus

Sustainable Development in Northern Europe C

Semester & Location:	Spring 2019 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Core Course - 3 credits
Core Course Study Tours:	West Jutland & Sweden
Major Disciplines:	Environmental Studies. Public Policy. Sustainability
Faculty Members:	Bianca Liberski - bli@dis.dk
Program Director:	Neringa Vendelbo - nb@dis.dk
Program Assistant:	Shannon Schooley - sks@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Mondays and Thursdays 10:05 – 11:25, F24-303

Program Orientation: Wednesday, January 16, at 13.00 in V23-201

 

Lecturer: Bianca Liberski

Cand.merc.int. MA, Intercultural Management with a focus on Ethics, Culture and CSR, Copenhagen Business School and BA (Hons) European Business with a focus on Economics, Politics, Philosophy and French, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK and Université Blaise Pascal, France. Experience includes working as a Project Coordinator, Danish Refugee Council, as an Ethics Officer, Borealis (Bruxelles), working in international relations for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Warsaw, the European Commission in Bruxelles and as an independent consultant advising two French fashion brands on the Danish market.  With DIS since 2009.

 

Description of course 

Sustainable development has emerged as one of the most important discourses of the 21^st 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: 

• 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 Northern European perspective);
• To examine the current and potential roles of government, civil society, and business in shaping a sustainable future;
• To investigate Sustainable Consumer Behaviour (in particular consumption and waste of food, clothing and transport) and Resilient Urban Environments in Copenhagen, Esbjerg and Stockholm;
• To provide a framework for understanding that links knowledge with practice and bridges the gap between the classroom and the outside world.

 

 

Learning objectives of the course 

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

• Comprehend the underlying concepts and issues of sustainability and resilience and how these are shaping the public awareness, debate and regulations in Denmark and Sweden;
• Show a critical awareness of the diverse and contested meanings of sustainable development ideas and practices;
• Identify a broad range of Danish and Swedish stakeholders and activities currently shaping the sustainability agenda;
• Compare and contrast sustainability discourses and practices in Denmark and Sweden with those in your home states;
• Locate a broad range of sources of information on sustainability, and to be able to engage in critical and reflective thinking on a sustainability issue;
• Articulate your own values, positionality, and possible strategies for a sustainable future.

 

Required texts

Please pick-up the following textbooks during the arrivals workshop:

Jackson, T. (2009) Prosperity Without Growth?: Economics for a Finite Planet, London, Earthscan.

Sachs, J. (2015) The Age of Sustainable Development, Columbia University Press.

Selected articles and publications available online.

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, 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. 

 

Field studies

Wednesday, February 27, 13:00 – 17:00: Visit to Bybi and Tagtomat

Wednesday, April 24, 09:00 – 12:30: Visit to the European Environmental Agency

 

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 is translated to practice in the field. You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours; a short study tour within Denmark during Core Course Week and a long study tour to Stockholm.

 

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: Monday, February 4 – Saturday, February 9

Long Study tour to Sweden: Sunday, March 24 – Friday, March 29

 

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 Esbjerg, Ribe and Fanø

A three-day tour to Esbjerg, Ribe and Fanø, Denmark. The aim of the SUS short study tour is to connect the classroom learning with real life experiences of sustainable development. Esbjerg is an interesting case study of how a city can develop from being reliant on fisheries to oil/gas/offshore to now focusing on windmill and other renewable energy sources. In April 2016, the largest windmill in the world was installed in Port of Esbjerg. On top of that, the municipality is deeply involved in become a sustainable city, from creating public/private partnerships to teaching sustainability in schools to promoting and installing solar panels, windmills and other renewable energy sources in Esbjerg and its vicinity. Esbjerg is also home to “Vadehavet”/Wadden Sea, a UNESCO protected strip of land and water stretching from Denmark through Germany to the Netherlands, and which features unique wildlife. We will also explore the oldest town in Denmark, Ribe, as well as the island of Fanø, being a national park.The main objective of the short study tour is to investigate sustainable urbanization and living in Esbjerg and to examine what it takes to become a sustainable city.  Esbjerg, like many other cities, needs to respect an industrial past, which is deeply embedded in the culture of the city, as well as protecting the unique wildlife of the Wadden Sea and the culture of Fanø while transitioning into a sustainable city.

Long study tour to Stockholm

A six-day tour to Stockholm, Sweden. Just like the short study tour, the aim of the SUS long study tour is to connect the classroom learning with real life experiences involving sustainable development. Stockholm was the European Green city in 2010 and Sweden is a world leader in sustainable urban planning. We will be taking public transportation where possible (including a train to Stockholm), and we will stay in a hotel, which has received an Eco Award for their use of carbon offsets and charitable contributions to the community. Also, we will eat at sustainable restaurants, whether they serve organic or local vegetarian or vegan food, or run on renewable energy. Specific visits have previously included national-level policy organizations, international NGOs, and examples of urban (re)development.  

A goal of the tour is to compare and contrast sustainability discourses and practices in Denmark and Sweden 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 Swedish context.

 

Evaluation

Study tour/project visit protocols (see protocol schemes)

 

Case Study, part 1

Part 1: ca. 3 pages

1. a) Identify a research question (related to “Consumption of Fast Fashion”, “Consumption of Food”, “cradle-to-cradle” philosophy, or Sustainable Urbanization in Esbjerg and Cph)
2. a) Introduce your research question: what would be interesting to investigate further? Analyze the case and explain why you have chosen it. Also mention possible difficulties/challenges.
3. b) Write the introduction
4. c) Write the outline/ “skeleton” of the case study
5. d) Provide a comprehensive bibliography/ list of materials
6. a) Sources: write a list of sources that you used and refer to them when backing up your analysis

Choose a research question/case study you find interesting – this is a chance to dig deeper into a subject or case, we have discussed or visited.

(Research paper: 7-8 pages in total, written as an essay and you will work two and two.)

Submission: Thursday, February 28, 2019, Canvas

 

Case Study, part 2

Main body. Based on your notes from the short study tour and our visits during the CCW and research in- and outside of class, you will make an in-depth analysis and assessment of your case/ research question.

The analysis should consist of contextualization (identification of historical, societal and community drivers), and the assessment of organizational and stakeholder analysis as well as assessment of success and mainstream potential.

1. Main body: the analysis and comparison.
2. Conclusion/perspectives: what is well-executed and what could be improved.
3. Remember to use images/pictures/diagrams etc. to illustrate your points

Research paper: 7-8 pages in total, written as an essay and you will work two and two.

Final Submission: Monday, April 15, 2019, Canvas

 

Individual Project

To be defined and discussed during classes.

 

Grading

Case Study, part 1 (3-4 pages)                                                                                                          20 %

Case Study, part 2 (7-8 pages in total with part 1)                                                                             20 %

Individual Project                                                                                                                                25 %

Consumption Blog (min 6 entries)                                                                                                      10 %

Study Tour Reflective Blog (min 4 entries)                                                                                         10 %

Participation                                                                                                                                        15 %

                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Participation will be based on the following criteria:

• Attendance
• Active participation in class discussions
• Preparation for each class
• Reading all assigned texts
• Preparing all assignments for class
• Active participation in study tours and field studies
• Active participation in class seminar

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 Sean Green (sg@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

Most students find that taking class notes by hand is sufficient for review purposes. Computers are allowed in class solely for note-taking and research purposes and only when encouraged by the instructor.