Syllabus for Sustainable Development: Project Management and Communication

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• thoroughly describe a delimited part of the sustainability challenge;
• plan, carry out and present a project work that applies theoretical knowledge and contributes to a sustainable development;
• demonstrate good ability to work independently;
• account for and evaluate the practical problems that can arise when working with projects;
• account for and critically relate to the practical and ethical dilemmas that can arise when working for a sustainable development.

Content

The course contains a planning phase that introduces sustainable development, the basics of project planning, working in groups and the ethical, practical problems that may arise in the work with the project. The students carry out a project work individually or in a group that in one way or another aims to contribute to sustainable development. The student comes up with a project proposal that is reviewed by an interdisciplinary reference group. When the project proposal is approved, the student runs his/her own project with the support of a contact person/supervisor and CEMUS as a resource base. The project is discussed during recurring seminars and presented in a project report and in some outreach context. The project will combine theoretical and practical skills with methodology. The project can focus on an area within or outside the university world. Focus is on critically discussing and presenting the project's results in both writing and speech.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and workshops, project work and project supervision. The lectures are given by guest lecturers from various academic disciplines and relevant areas of society. Ample opportunities are provided for active student participation and critical reflection. Participation in seminars and workshops is compulsory. Non-compulsory study visits or equivalent may occur.

Assessment

The student is examined through written preparation for (3 credits) and active participation in seminars and workshops (3 credits), and through written documentation (8 credits) and oral presentation (1 credit) of an applied project work.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

Active participation is reassessed through a re-seminar. If a student after having been offered a re-seminar still does not meet the requirements to pass the active participation elements the examiner can choose reassessment by another method.