Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module aims to introduce students to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Introduced in 2015, after the era Millennium Development Goals, the SDGs are a set of 17 economic, social, environmental and governance goals that are meant to be achieved by all UN nations by 2030. The SDGs represent several new ways of thinking about development: they are universal, applying to developed as well as developing countries; cross-cutting, emphasising the importance of working towards social, economic, environmental and governance goals in an integrated and synergistic manner; and require that to meet the goals, countries must meet the needs of traditionally left-behind groups in society.

By the end of the module, students should have some understanding of:
•       The content and role of the Sustainable Development Goals
•       The practical and normative concerns around how actors at all levels are trying to achieve the SDGs
•       Global governance of development and environmental issues

Outline Of Syllabus

The module covers the following subjects:

What are the SDGs?
History and origins of the SDGs: evolution from the Millennium Development Goals
The meanings of sustainable development: environmental and economic
Indivisibility of the SDGs: principles and practice
Institutions and Processes for the SDGs: HLPF and VNRs
National planning towards the SDGs
Cities and the SDGs
Advocating for the SDGs: Stakeholders and Democracy in Sustainable Development
Measuring Progress towards the SDGs (combine with institutions?)
Principles of the SDGs: Universality and Leaving No One Behind

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module, the students will understand:
What the SDGs are and how they differ from other frameworks for global policymaking
How the SDGs have been developed and implemented at the global, national and local levels
Major critiques of the SDGs and sustainable development as an approach

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will learn to:
Read both academic literature and policy documents in a critical and informed way
Engage in active discussion around practical and ethical issues raised by the SDGs
Critically analyse current environmental and development policy with respect to theory

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Rationale and relationship to learning outcomes: the two hour weekly seminar will involve a combination of a presentation by the module leader and discussion based around students being responsible for leading the discussion. The themes of the seminars will relate to the theoretical, methodological and substantive issues outlined in the module aims. The seminar-based teaching and learning methods will enable students to develop employment-related skills such as interpersonal communication, oral presentation, teamwork, planning and organising, information literacy and problem solving. The presentation of the research papers facilitates communication and presentation skills as well as the development of critical analysis.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will be asked to assess progress on an SDG or a group of SDGs in a specific context. They will be asked to choose a policy audience, whether government, NGO, international organisation, or other. This format will allow them to apply the theories they have learned to exercise career-relevant writing skills.

General Notes

N/A