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GG5072: SUSTAINABILITY TRANSITIONS - CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

This course will discuss the theoretical (and historical) evolution of the notion of sustainability, discuss various related concepts such as green growth and the green economy, introduce the topic of sustainability transitions as an interdisciplinary issue, explore the theory of sustainability transitions and discuss various technological, political, economic and socio-cultural challenges which transitions to sustainable forms of production and consumption must overcome to be successful. 

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Piotr Niewiadomski

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This team-taught course will be the main introduction to the whole programme and therefore it will be a core element of the whole curriculum. The course will discuss the theoretical (and historical) evolution of the notion of sustainability, discuss various related concepts such as sustainable development, green growth and the green economy, introduce the topic of sustainability transitions as an interdisciplinary issue, explore the theory of sustainability transitions and discuss various technological, political, institutional, economic and socio-cultural challenges which transitions to sustainable forms of production and consumption must overcome to be successful. The course will utilise academic literature, grey literature and policy and media reports in order to help students link the theory to successful and unsuccessful real-world examples.  

The course will have three main intended learning outcomes. On the successful completion of the course students will have acquired a broad, critical and advanced understanding of: 

  • The theoretical (and historical) evolution of the notion of sustainability and various sustainability-related concepts, including sustainable development, green growth and the green economy,
  • Theories of sustainability transitions, their relations to energy transitions, and their various social, economic, political, cultural and institutional aspects and implications,
  • Various social, economic, political, cultural and institutional and technological challenges to successful sustainability transitions acrossa number of scales, sectors and geographical contexts on the basis of real-world examples taken from literature and media reports. 

The course will consist of 10 lectures and/or lecture/seminars where students will have a chance to familiarise themselves with the academic material on the topic and be given an opportunity to actively discuss various issues and aspects of sustainability transitions.  The course will aim to identify various challenges to sustainability transitions and encourage students to think critically about their origin and creatively about various possible ways to overcome them. 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 34
Assessment Weeks 19,20 Feedback Weeks 24,25

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Feedback

A mark will be provided via MyAberdeen. Verbal feedback will be offered on request.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyA broad understanding of various challenges to successful sustainability transitions across a number of scales, sectors and geographical contexts.
ConceptualUnderstandA broad, critical and advanced understanding of the theories of sustainability transitions, their relations to energy transitions and their various aspects and implications.
ConceptualUnderstandA broad, critical and advanced understanding of the theoretical and historical evolution of the notion of sustainability and various sustainability-related concepts including sustainable development

Oral Presentation: Group

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 33
Assessment Weeks 14,15 Feedback Weeks 15,16

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Feedback

Feedback and mark will be provided in writing for each group on a standardised feedback sheet. Verbal feedback will be offered on request.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyA broad understanding of various challenges to successful sustainability transitions across a number of scales, sectors and geographical contexts.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 33
Assessment Weeks 12 Feedback Weeks 15

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Feedback

Individually in writing on a standardised feedback sheet.

Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 33
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 34
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Oral Presentation: Group

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 33
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandA broad, critical and advanced understanding of the theoretical and historical evolution of the notion of sustainability and various sustainability-related concepts including sustainable development
ConceptualUnderstandA broad, critical and advanced understanding of the theories of sustainability transitions, their relations to energy transitions and their various aspects and implications.
ConceptualApplyA broad understanding of various challenges to successful sustainability transitions across a number of scales, sectors and geographical contexts.

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