School of Environment, Resources and Development, (SERD)

ED52.03 : Introduction to Development and Sustainability 2(2-0)

Course Objectives:

As the natural resources are shrinking, global population is growing, and climate change is threatening our existence, achieving sustainable development needs new thinking. To harmonize human and nature for long-term co-existence and to address the socio-economic, political and cultural development in the region, it is important to have a broad-based understanding of development and sustainability. This course provides basic concepts related to development and sustainability especially in analyzing the situation in Asia. It provides students with a sound basis to go further into their own specializations, by understanding the interlinkages of the frameworks and issues pertaining to development and sustainability.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, the students are able to
-   Explain key concepts in development and sustainability
-   Discuss the implications of Sustainable Development Goals and their relevance to the context of Asia
-   Identify the key factors and roles of stakeholders for Sustainable Development
-   Apply various methods and tools for assessing the sustainability performance

Pre-requisite(s):

None

Course Outline:

I. Introduction to Development
1. History of development / economic development thinking
2. Theories of Development
3. Poverty and vulnerability
4. Inequality and rights: gender, ethnicity, class

II. Introduction to Sustainability
1. Requirements for realizing a sustainable world (incl. population, food, resources, energy, infrastructure, etc)
2. Concept of sustainability (incl, frameworks for sustainable development)
3. Risks and resilience.
4. Sustainability of the economic, environment and natural resources
5. Approaches for sustainability assessment

III. Sustainable development goals in context of Asia
1. Responses to the Sustainable Development Challenges
2. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
3. Indicators and Monitoring Framework of SDGs
4. SDGs Progress in Asia
5. Implications of SDGs for Long-term Sustainable Development in Asia

Laboratory Sessions:

None

Textbook:

1. Currie-Alder, B., Kanbur, R., Malone, D.M. and Medhora, R. (2014). International Development – Ideas, Experience and Prospects. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
2. Kingsbury, D., McKay, J. and Hunt, J. (2016). International Development – Issues and Challenges. London: Palgrave.

Reference Books:

1. Gore, A. (2006). An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About it. New York: Rodale Books.
2. Kapucu, N. and Liou, K. T. (2014). Disaster and Development, Examining Global Issues and Cases, Springer.
3. OECD (2010). Guidance on Sustainability Impact Assessment, Paris.
4. Parpart, J. L., Connelly, M. P. and Barriteau, V. E. (2000). Theoretical perspectives on gender and development, Ottawa: IDRC.
5. UN DESA (2012).Back to Our Common Future, , New York.
6. Secondi, G. (2008. The Development Economics Reader, London: Routledge.

Journals and Magazines:

1. Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier
2. Gender, technology and development, Sage.
3. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Elsevier.
4. Sustainable Development issues brief (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs)
5. World Development, Elsevier.

Time Distribution and Study Load:

Lecture and class discussion: 30 hours
Self and group-study: 90 hours

Teaching and Learning Methods:

In order to introduce and familiarize development and sustainability concepts and application to students, the course will be a combination of lectures and class discussions. Various lecturers will introduce different concepts, followed by a seminar where various faculty members of the department share their own research in order to shed light on updated research topics.

Evaluation Scheme:

Individual assignment (three assignments, 25% each, total 75%); sustainability hackathon (25%- 30% for pitching, 70% individual report).

“A” would be awarded if a student demonstrates excellent understanding on concepts of development and sustainability. A “B” would be awarded if a student shows an overall understanding of topic covered in class. A “C” would be given if a student meets below average expectation on both understanding and application. A “D” would be given if a student does not meet basic expectation in analyzing or understanding issues covered in the course.

Instructor(s):

SECTION	NAME
A	Prof. Vilas Nitivattananon , Prof. Mokbul Morshed Ahmad