Inter-University Sustainability Challenge (2025/2026: Periode 4)

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Cursusdoel

Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.
After successful completion of the course, the student is able to:
  • Demonstrate individual and group expertise in problem framing and analysis using participatory research methodologies that create transformative pathways to action.
  • Apply a variety of evaluative tools, including stakeholder analysis, to assess local contexts and unsustainable practices in the places where we live.
  • Combine individual knowledge and expertise in a transdisciplinary team to design an integral solution to a local sustainability challenge.
  • Recognise and manage inclusive, interdisciplinary and intercultural ways of working to integrate diverse perspectives and ethical issues in group working processes.
  • Develop a global and intersectional perspective on sustainability and critically analyse synergies and trade-offs among the SDGs.
  • Employ a variety of media to creatively communicate the rationale, results and perceived strengths and weaknesses of your work to a diverse audience.

Vakinhoudelijk

All over the world, we face similar challenges in the places where we live. These challenges are major: How can we develop living environments that are affordable to all, while providing equal living standards? How can we adapt living environments to future hotter and wetter or drier climates? How do we ensure that development of such environments does not conflict with other major goals, such as biodiversity restoration and sustainable production of healthy food? These raise issues of equity and social inclusion in design, bbiodiversity-climate-livelihood trade-offs and links, nature-inclusive design and natural processes.

At the same time, different concepts like "Environment", "Sustainability" and "Home" mean different things to different people. How we look at the world around us is crucial in designing a future we have not yet imagined. In this course, students from several study programmes at Utrecht University (the Netherlands), Wageningen University (the Netherlands), Eindhoven University (the Netherlands) and Nelson Mandela University (South Africa) will collaborate be bringing multiple disciplines together to analyse, compare and co-create opportunities to tackle local and global challenges in the places where we live.

Students will perform a deep analysis of a challenge in their living environment and work together in transdisciplinary teams with societal partners to propose nature-based opportunities to improve our living environments. Learning will be underpinned by a critical analysis of diverse Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a grounding in participatory design and research methodologies as well as in-demand skills such as systems thinking and futuring. The final result will be a product presented in a multimedia format and substantiated by a report written for a popular audience.

The students will meet the lecturers and fellow students using innovative online learning tools such as the Virtual Classroom. The purpose of the inter-university collaboration is so we all meet people outside of our unique habitats and benefit from the expertise and perspectives others offer. At the same time, this collaboration will help reveal to the students from which knowledge, expertise, skills, perspectives and cultural aspects they approach the project themselves.

Werkvormen

Groepsonderwijs
Toelichting

45 % of the grade will be defined by groupwork. The students will work on a topic defined by societal partners and is related to at least 3 SDGs. In the proposal phase, the project will be defined and the work distributed. The final result will be a prototype, which will be visually presented in the form of a physical or digital design and substantiated by a written report.

Lectures

Tutorial

Toetsing

Eindresultaat

Verplicht | Weging 1% | ECTS 7,5

The grade will be based on an individual paper, a group paper and lecture participation.

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er is geen informatie over verplichte ingangseisen bekend.

Voorkennis

Max.16 students. In case more students are enrolled for the course the rules of the Teaching and Examination Regulations will be followed to appoint the students.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Thema's

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de verplichte literatuur bekend


Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

G.B. O'Sullivan G.B.OSullivan@uu.nl

Docenten

prof. dr. K.T. Rebel k.t.rebel@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Deze cursus is open voor bijvakkers. Controleer wel of er aanvullende ingangseisen gelden.

Inschrijving
Van maandag 26 januari 2026 tot en met vrijdag 6 februari 2026

Na-inschrijving
Van maandag 30 maart 2026 tot en met dinsdag 31 maart 2026

Inschrijving niet geopend
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
Laat in de Cursus-Catalogus zien