Agenda 2030: Synergies, conflicts, and assessment tools – 2024

Aims and objectives

The aim of this course is to allow students to familiarize themselves with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to get an understanding of their implications for higher education and research. The course will foster awareness and understanding of different perspectives and priorities regarding sustainability in its three dimensions – social, economic and environmental – and in doing so will also introduce students to possibilities for further in-depth study in additional GCUA2030 courses (‘Working and communicating across cultures’, ‘Education for sustainable development’, and ‘Designing research with impact using the Theory of Change approach’). The course will provide guidance on how to constructively identify and approach goal conflicts and discuss trade-offs and synergies central to achieving the SDGs. The students will apply tools that will help them to analyze and plan research projects that have potential impact with regards to the SDGs.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

·      Identify and interpret the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability in their research topic(s) and teaching subject(s) and relate them to Agenda 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

·      Apply various tools (e.g the SDG Impact Assessment Tool, SDG Synergies Tool, Climate Interactive Tool) to research project(s) and use them to modify research project(s) so as to contribute to increased sustainability.

Entry requirements

The course is freely available to PhD students and postdocs, and in some instances MSc students and teaching staff from universities in the Global Challenges University Alliance (GCUA 2030). 

Course content

This course is envisioned as a way to further develop the generic skills repertoire of doctoral students, giving them an opportunity to approach sustainability from a critical lens in their future careers, including in teaching and research.

Using a critical thinking approach, course participants will explore and evaluate several cutting-edge tools related to sustainability and its assessment (e.g. SDG Impact Assessment Tool – www.sdgimpactassessmenttool.org; SDG Synergies Tool – www.sdgsynergies.org). By using his/hers own research project in the process of self-evaluation, PhD students will identify the project’s opportunities, risks, and knowledge gaps and subsequently have a better understanding how the project relates to the SDGs.

Teaching format

This 100% online course will be delivered with the use of a Learning Management System (Canvas) and a communication system such as Zoom. Teaching and learning activities will include synchronous and asynchronous activities for example online meetings, pre-recorded lectures, individual and group assignments, group discussions, independent study and case studies.

Timetable

The course will be given during 4 weeks in total with 25% study pace. This course is equivalent to 5 days of full-time studies.

 Examination

This course will be graded Pass or Fail. In order to pass the course, participants will need to complete and hand in all individual and group assignments, including online peer-reviews, discussions, and reflections, as well as participate in scheduled synchronous meetings, when applicable.

Course Leader

Paul Egan, SLU

Contact for further information

Paul Egan (GCUA 2030 coordinator) – paul.egan@slu.se