SUSTAIN 300 : A Sustainable World

Science

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Is it possible to have a sustainable global system? We focus on large scale social institutions including politics, the media, national and international law and economics. Students undertake a group project to develop skills in researching and integrating information from a range of experts and recommending sustainability solutions to policy makers. Two sustainability issues, such as population and plastic, are discussed in depth.

Course Overview

Sustain 300 is the final course in the Sustainability Module, but can also be taken as a standalone course. It examines sustainability at the national and international scale, to understand the types actions needed to realise a more sustainable world. Classes will examine existing global initiatives to achieve sustainability, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, and will explore new possibilities for international governance of sustainability. The focal topics this year include energy and biodiversity - guest lecturers from the university and beyond will highlight diverse ideas about how we might address these sustainability challenges. The tutorial programme will focus on a group project in which students create a political party and outline and defend the policies they feel will advance sustainability values and outcomes.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points passed at Stage II

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate understanding of how large scale social institutions including politics, international agreements, global social movements and economics contribute to sustainability problems and solutions (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  2. Critically discuss and apply the values of sustainability (Capability 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6)
  3. Work with peers to create a political party and associated policies that promote sustainable outcomes (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  4. Exemplify high-level awareness of effective group process (Capability 4, 5 and 6)
  5. Demonstrate critical understanding of two sustainability issues and potential solutions: biodiversity and energy (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Test 20% Individual Coursework
Portfolio (website + video) 20% Group Coursework
Reflection 20% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Test
Portfolio (website + video)
Reflection
Final Exam

Special Requirements

This course has no special requirements.

Workload Expectations

During a typical teaching week there will be two hours of lectures, one hour of tutorials and one hour of extra material (readings, videos etc). For the 12 teaching weeks, this totals 45 hours. Since the course as a whole represents approximately 150 hours of study, that leaves a total of 105 hours across the entire semester for both group work and independent study.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is expected at scheduled lectures.
  • Lectures will be available as recordings.
  • The course will not include live online events.
  • Attendance on campus is not required for the exam. The exam will be run online via the Inspera Assessment portal.
  • The activities for the course are scheduled for standard weekly delivery.
Special advice for offshore students:
This course is available online to students resident offshore. The assessment and learning delivery mechanisms may differ from that presented in this Digital Course Outline. Please contact Georgia Piggot, the Course Coordinator, for further details at georgia.piggot@auckland.ac.nz.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

SUSTAIN 300 does not have a required text book. Each week assigned articles will be posted to Canvas, and will be available as a Talis reading list. If you have any problems accessing course readings, please contact the course coordinator.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 28/10/2021 06:59 p.m.