The Science and Practice of Sustainable Development (edX)

In order to get the most out of this course, we recommend that you have experience working in the development sector or a strong interest in this area. We also recommend that you complete the other three courses that make up the Leadership in Global Development MicroMasters program: Leaders in Global Development, Adaptive Leadership in Development, and Critical Development Perspectives.

This course will attempt to provide key content knowledge to bridge the science and the practice of the application and enhancement of sustainable development. The course draws on contemporary examples from both The University of Queensland (UQ) and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to address the world’s most urgent challenges, with emphasis on the linkages between science and policy.

This course is part of the Leadership in Global Development MicroMasters Program.

What you'll learn:

- To be aware of the current international policy landscape for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

- To understand the practice and policy of sustainable pathways to development

- To appreciate some of the underpinnings of sustainable development practice and how policy-makers are trying to apply it for better governance of scarce resources

- To gain a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between the SGDs and how they are implicated in practice

- To apply relevant aspects of sustainable development to your own practice as a development leader

- To understand how various attributes of sustainability (environmental, economic and social) can be applied by development practitioners and other stakeholders

- To gain scientific knowledge regarding planetary boundaries processes and their influence on international economic development

All graded assessment will be graded and have insightful feedback for learners to further refine their new knowledge and skills.

Syllabus

Module 1 - The History and Politics of Sustainable Development

Module 2 - The Science of Sustainable Development

Module 3 - Introduction to the SDG agenda

Module 4 - Critical Perspectives, Complexity and Indigenous Knowledges

Module 5 - Sustainable Development Goals 17 & 16: Partnerships, finance, technologies and institutions, the frameworks for enabling the SDGs

Module 6 - Sustainable Development Goals 13 & 7: Climate action, affordable and clean energy and the interconnections

Module 7 - Sustainable Development Goals 3, 5 & 6: Health, wellbeing, gender equality and clean water and sanitation

Module 8 - Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 & 10: No Poverty, zero hunger and reduced inequalities

Module 9 - Sustainable Development Goals 12, 14 & 15: Responsible consumption and production, life below water and life on land

Module 10 - Sustainable Development Goals 8, 9, 4 & 11: Decent work and economic growth, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Quality Education and Sustainable Cities and Communities