Study Guide

Objective

After completing the course, the student will be able to:
- identify critical sustainability challenges, their causes and interdependencies, a as well as their diverse impacts on the environment and human beings,
- define key concepts relating to the different dimensions of sustainable development,
- identify the key sustainability goals and actors in sustainability policies and transitions,
- identify different perspectives and conflicts of values and interests related to solutions that promote sustainable development,
- consider their own lifestyle and consumption choices as well as the practices of their own professional field from the perspectives of responsibility and sustainable development.

Content

- The historical context of the sustainability crisis and the complexity of sustainability challenges
- Sustainable development as a concept and a policy process
- Sustainability transition and ecological reconstruction
- Environmental sustainability: preserving ecological balance and a healthy planet
- Social and cultural sustainability: fairly distributed human well-being
- Economic sustainability: an economy that serves the well-being of people and the planet

Materials

Available in itslearning.

Teaching methods

During the course, studying takes place in a self-directed manner, following the instructions in the itslearning learning environment and utilising the instructed learning materials.

The Fundamentals of Sustainable Development (1 ECTS) is implemented as an online course, in which the students familiarise themselves with learning materials in text and video format and takes a test included in each subject section. Students study independently, without instruction from a teacher.

International connections

Sustainable development is at the core of the course. The aim is to address sustainable development in a manner that encourages participants to examine their own choices, habits and actions from the perspective of sustainability and to change their own habits in a more sustainable direction.

The sustainability of the pedagogical implementation is enhanced by the fact that all learning materials are in digital format and the course is implemented entirely as remote/online learning.

Student workload

The course is available on the itslearning online learning environment, where you will complete assignments independently, according to your own schedule. The course materials are available until 31 July. If you have any questions concerning the course, please get in touch with us at avoinamk@turkuamk.fi

The online course includes four tests based on learning materials. Familiarizing oneself with the course platform and instructions, reading and watching the learning materials, and taking the tests requires a total of ca. 27 hours of student work. That would mean on average 6-7 hours of work per subject section.

The actual use of time depends partly on your starting level, i.e. how much you already know about sustainable development before starting the online course. Time use is also affected by how deeply you want to delve into the topics using the additional materials provided.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Passing a test requires that the student has been able to answer correctly to 80% of the test questions. There is no limit to the number of times you can respond.

Content scheduling

The online course provides students with basic knowledge of sustainable development and an understanding of how to act responsibly and in a way that promotes sustainability in working life and other areas of life.

The online course consists of four subjects, each of which includes learning materials and a test:

1. Introduction: from the sustainability crisis towards a sustainable future

2. Environmental sustainability: preserving ecological balance and a healthy planet

3. Social and cultural sustainability: fairly-distributed human well-being

4. Economic sustainability: an economy that serves the well-being of people and the planet

Evaluation scale

Hyväksytty/Hylätty

Assessment methods and criteria

In the Fundamentals of Sustainable Development module (1 ECTS), assessment is based on tests. Successful completion of the module requires successful completion of each of the four test.

The course is graded on a passed - not passed scale. A passing grade is awarded for successful completion of all tests included on the course.

The grade will be recorded in the Student Information System in the second week of the month following the completion of the course.