FLKM4110 Introduction to International Development, Education, and Sustainabilities Course description

This first course of the Master’s programme introduces different approaches that interpret and suggest action to meet the present challenges and crises in the following three fields: economic and social development, education, and environment and climate change. During the course, students learn to critically examine mainstream approaches to mass education, international development, and climate change, as well as a range of critical alternatives to global development trends. All the topics covered in the course provide a grounding for students’ trajectory through the programme. They offer critical insights into the global initiatives like the SDGs and their potentials.

No prerequisite knowledge required.

After completing the course, students are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

Students have knowledge of and insight into:

• theories about economic and social development strategies historically and today;
• theories about periods of economic growth and crises;
• theories about the historical phenomenon of international mass education, its content and official purposes, and its current status;
• the United Nations ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDG) Agenda and its implications for international education and sustainable development;
• perspectives on the Anthropocene, the Capitalocene, and sustainable development;
• green change choices with their goals and relations to larger development approaches, including the examination of climate justice and various climate mitigation options
• multiple goals for sustainable development, such as economic growth, human rights, environmental and climate justice, and the right to quality education;
• the intended, actual, and potential roles and contributions of education to sustainable development goals, especially in the Global South.

Skills

Students demonstrate their capacity to:

• competently understand and explain relevant topics in the field;
• critically consider and compare research-based knowledge of the course topics;
• competently examine how various development strategies and change options are aimed at different goals;
• produce written responses to course topics and assignment tasks in accordance with the required academic standards.

General competence

Students demonstrate their capacity to:

• explain and problematise relevant theories and approaches about: international education, development, green change choices, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and climate mitigation options;
• independently evaluate and apply new knowledge to prescribed problems;
• communicate academic issues relating to the major themes of the course.

This course module consists of lectures and seminars. Academic discussion is encouraged throughout the course module, and a range of activities are included to facilitate students’ engagement with the curriculum materials and central ideas of the course. These include small writing assignments and presentations by student groups. Training in academic writing is an integrated part of the course. Please see the general programme description for further details.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• One group-work assignment with two parts: 1) online submission of a written paper (400-600 words); and 2) group presentation (5-8 minutes) and discussion of the work in a class seminar.
• One lecture / workshop on plagiarism and academic integrity.
• 80 % attendance requirement (see the programme description for more information).

The purpose of the coursework requirements 1 and 2 is to contribute to students’ academic formation in the preparation, presentation and discussion of academic texts. Requirement 3 is designed to ensure high levels of participation in the coursework and program, to support students’ academic formation.

The assessment consists of an individual home exam/academic paper over five days, of 3000 words (+/- 10 %).

Resit/rescheduled exam:

The resit/rescheduled exam is organised in the same way as the ordinary exam.

Examination support material is permitted.

A grade scale with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade is used. The grade F means that the student has failed the exam.

All submitted papers will be assessed by one internal and one external examiner.