NIGK20000U Environment and Development – from Theory to Practice

Volume 2022/2023
Education

MSc Programme in Environment and Development 

Content

This course focuses on the multiple theoretical and analytical approaches to understanding coupled human-environment systems in the context of achieving sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries. The course will focus specifically on approaches to address current grand environmental and development challenges, with a focus on how to feed the world while preserving natural resources at the same time. The course will involve methodological exercises aimed at understanding the data needs and methodological approaches that are relevant for designing interdisciplinary research on the topics discussed. The students will work with quantitative and qualitative datasets from both social and natural sciences to obtain an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. The theoretical and methodological knowledge will be put into practice in interdisciplinary group projects in which students, with different disciplinary backgrounds, will develop a solutions-oriented research project to understanding a problem related to coupled human-environment systems, development and management of agro-ecosystems.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

  • Understand complex interdisciplinary problems related to coupled human-environment systems through a broad range of methodological approaches
  • Explain how to analyze complex interdisciplinary problems by combining various methods and uses of environmental  and development datasets
  • An in-depth understanding of interdisciplinary project work that is central for understanding and solving human-environmental problems

 

Skills

  • Application of approaches to analyze issues related to food security, management of agro-ecosystems, and development
  • Critical analysis of data and methodologies used for understanding interdisciplinary problems
  • Application of theory and methodologies to conduct solutions oriented research projects
  • Organize quantitative and qualitative data
  • Interdisciplinary group work and project development

 

Competences

  • Students should be able to identify and apply theoretical and methodological approaches to solving complex interdisciplinary problems needed for understanding and managing sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries
Literature

Please see Absalon course page

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
The form of teaching is based on theoretical and methodological exercises combined with lectures. Interdisciplinary group work with the aim of producing a joint product is central to the course. For the teaching plan, please see Absalon course page.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 14
  • Preparation
  • 143
  • Exercises
  • 49
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 20 min. no preparation
Type of assessment details
The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week.
The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure and also includes examination in the titles listed in the officially approved reading list. The written report and the oral exam both account for 50% of the grade.

I order to pass the course, both parts of the exam have to score a grade of at least 02.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
Re-exam

Same as ordinary exam.

The student has the following options:

  • If the quality of the written assignment is not acceptable, the student can choose to either hand in a new or revised report.
  • If the quality of the written assignment is acceptable, the student can choose to either hand in a revised report or resubmit the original report from the ordinary exam.

The written assignment must be handed in prior to the re-examination week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure and also includes examination in the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.  The written report and the oral exam both account for 50% of the grade.

I order to pass the course, both parts of the exam have to score a grade of at least 02.

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome.