Sustainability and Biculturalism: Their Interrelationships and Impacts (FutureLearn)

Deconstruct culture to understand how we can all contribute to a shared and sustainable environmental philosophy. Learn how to examine sustainability through a bicultural lens. Sustainability and biculturalism are important ideas, but do you know what these buzzwords actually mean and understand how they constantly affect each other? On this four-week course, Otago Polytechnic will give you a detailed introduction to theories of both concepts, and explain their interrelatedness.

Enroll in course

MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

By the end, you’ll not only be able to look at sustainability issues through a bicultural lens, but will also understand the importance of cultural identity when it comes to addressing them.

Explore the role of culture on unconscious bias

You’ll critically reflect on the influence that people, place, and identity have on the development of cultural constructs, particularly in the context of sustainability and biculturalism

Through careful deconstruction, you’ll see how the culture that we are exposed to creates the unconscious bias (stereotypes formed outside our conscious awareness) that shapes so many of our thoughts and actions.

Deconstruct your cultural identity and find a shared bicultural space

As well as learning about cultural identity and sustainability theories, this course will provide an Iwi Māori perspective of people, place, and identity.

Deconstruction of the Iwi Māori culture, and your own, will allow you to compare the two and identify the differences and universal similarities. With this foundation, you’ll gain insight into how cultures can share and contribute to an environmental philosophy.

Learn from the experts at Otago Polytechnic

Otago Polytechnic has established formal partnerships with local Rūnaka (Iwi Māori councils) in Ōtāgo and a commitment to making a positive impact on the global environment.

You can trust the institution to guide you through deconstructing unconscious bias and understanding how sustainability can be central to everyone’s culture.

What topics will you cover?

- Sustainability concepts and definitions

- Cultural constructs and deconstruction

- An Iwi Māori perspective: place, identity, and practice

- Meeting people’s needs in a bicultural space

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Reflect critically on the influence of people, place, and identity in the development of a cultural construct within the context of sustainability and biculturalism.

- Explore the interconnectedness of social, political, cultural, and economic aspects of sustainability.

- Evaluate a sustainability problem in a bicultural context.
Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in sustainability from a bicultural perspective. It’s ideal for new learners in either or both fields, and for those working in sustainability and looking to engage and partner with indigenous or First Nations people around this issue.