Sustainable development from different perspectives: individuals, organisations and social networks

This course offers a cohesive and detailed overview of contemporary social science research in the field of sustainability. You will analyse dynamic interaction between individuals, organisations, society and ecological systems, focusing on how institutional structures affect conditions for social, economic and ecological sustainability.

On completing the course, the student is able to: • broadly describe current research and theory formation on sustainable development from sociological, business economics, economics and psychological perspectives • broadly describe international agreements on sustainable development such as the UN Sustainability Goals (SDG, Agenda 2030) • broadly describe current research on models for sustainable social development in which social, economic and ecological sustainability goals are brought together • critically discuss and analyse sustainability using different social, economic and ecological perspectives at local, national and global levels • identify and critically analyse the responsibilities and capacity of different actors (individuals, organisations, social workers) vis-à-vis sustainable social development • critically reflect upon the use of methods common to the social sciences in the analysis of societal development vis-à-vis sustainability and resilience • critically reflect upon conflicts of interest and ethical dilemmas in the field of sustainable development.