Overall aims with this course are that the participants shall understand and be able to reflect on the set of problems with complex socio-ecological systems and to understand the importance of multi-disciplinary efforts and how to deal with current and future uncertainties. Sustainable development in the course refers to the development at the global, regional and local levels as defined in the Brundtland Commission report ‘Our common future’, with the three pillars of environmental, social and economic sustainability.
The aim of the course is to give PhD students good knowledge of sustainable development. This knowledge will increase the student’s ability to identify possibilities and risks associated with sustainability when developing products, processes and systems.
This course is a shorter version of the courses "Sustainable development with a systems perspective, 5 hp" and "The designer/engineer and sustainable development, 7,5 hp". The “5 hp” course includes more literature and video material, which in some cases are replaced with summaries in this course. The “7,5 hp” course includes a project as well.