FMJ3388 Sustainability Perspectives for Assessing and Designing Research, Projects and Policies 6.0 credits
This course addresses a topic of critical global importance: how to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges in a coherent and synergistic manner. In today´s hyperconnected world, any research activity, project or policy may have multi-faceted negative and/or positive impacts on the society, the economy and the environment. Knowledge and management of those impacts is crucial when striving for sustainable development.
This course aims at providing the knowledge and tools to understand the key sustainable development aspects related to research, projects and policies. Based on the latest science in the field, it will introduce key sustainability concepts, and provide tools to investigate how research, projects and policies may affect (positively or negatively) the achievement of each of the 169 Targets of the 17 UN´s Sustainable Development Goals.
* to enroll in this course, please send an e-mail to: Phdsupport@itm.kth.se - include your name, personal id no. and course no.
** the last day for enrollment ifor the 2021 edition s Friday the 19th of March 2021
Information for research students about course offerings
Note: Last day for registration is 19 of March
Course start Friday 26th of March at 13:15-15:00
Preliminary schedule:
31 of March, 13:15-15:00
13 of April, 13:15-15:00
15 of April, 13:15-15:00
21 of April, 13:15-15:00
28 of April, 13:15-15:00
5 of May, 13:15-15:00
12 of May, 13:15-15:00
19 of May, 13:15-15:00
26 of May, 13:15-15:00, 15:15-17:00
15 of June, 13:15-17:00
To be enrolled:
Send an e-mail to: Phdsupport@itm.kth.se - include your name, personal id no and course no, last day on 19th of March
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
The course will be composed of a mix of lectures and hands-on exercises to relate the student's research topic to aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals. One of the course output will be on applying methods to evaluate the sustainability implications of the participant's own PhD topic.
Seminars will include key concepts on sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goals, and international agreements on sustainable development, and relate key research areas at KTH with sustainability. For instace, seminars will relate to how climate change, social justice and gender equality, energy and industrial transitions and economic transition relate to broader Sustainable Development.
Students will learn how to map and evaluate their research in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals, both to produce the course final presentation and report, but also to fill the dedicated section on Sustainable Development in their eISP
Subjects and concepts that are brought up in the course include:
- Information on global international sustainable development agreements and their link to national policy.
- Global competence and key competencies in sustainability education
- Social justice and gender equality in the SDGs
- Industrial transitions and sustainability transitions
- Energy systems and the SDGs.
- Climate change and the SDGs
- Sustainable transport systems
- Sustainable production and consumption, circular economy
- Economic and sustainable development - substitutes or complements?
- Artificial Intelligencefor sustainable development
Intended learning outcomes
The course focuses on the main interlinkages between their student's research and broader Sustainable Development. The course will be composed of a mix of lectures and hands-on exercises to relate the student's research topic to the Sustainable Development Goals. One of the course output will be on applying tools to evaluate the sustainability implications of the participant's own PhD topic.
After the completion of this course, the course participants will be able to:
- Explain different interpretations of Sustainable Development (and sustainability) and the key international agreements in the field
- Explain relevant sustainable development challenges in relation to specific research areas
- Critically reflect on how the student's research field relates to the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Map, explain and evaluate how the PhD student's research relates to sustainability paradigms and contextualise it within its synergies and trade-offs with the Sustainable Development Goals
- Present a plan to further integrate sustainability aspects in the student´s research topic
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
Admitted to postgraduate education
Recommended prerequisites
Equipment
Literature
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
Examination
- INL1 - Written assignments, 4.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
- SEM1 - Seminars, 2.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Other requirements for final grade
Attendance at 75% of course meetings Absence at a maximum of one physical meeting can be compensated by a supplementary task.
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.