Fundamentals of Sustainable Development (nonstop) (1cr)

Evaluation methods and criteria

In the Fundamentals of Sustainable Development module (1 ECTS), assessment is based on tests. Successful completion of the module requires successful completion of each of the four test. The use of artificial intelligence in the course is prohibited because the student must demonstrate, through tests, that they have studied the learning materials and the instructed supplementary materials and understood the topics covered in them.

Evaluation scale

Hyväksytty/Hylätty

Content scheduling

The online course provides students with basic knowledge of sustainable development and an understanding of how to act responsibly and in a way that promotes sustainability in working life and other areas of life. The online course consists of four subjects, each of which includes learning materials and a test: 1. Introduction: from the sustainability crisis towards a sustainable future 2. Environmental sustainability: preserving ecological balance and a healthy planet 3. Social and cultural sustainability: fairly-distributed human well-being 4. Economic sustainability: an economy that serves the well-being of people and the planet It is recommended to proceed with the course in the above order. However, if you wish, you can progress to other subject modules even if you have not yet passed the test for one of the subject modules.

Objective

After completing the online course, the student will be able to: - identify critical sustainability challenges, their causes, as well as their diverse impacts on the environment and human beings, - describe the roles various institutions and social actors have in sustainability policies and sustainability transformation, - explain the different dimensions of sustainable development and the key concepts and sustainability goals relating to them, - distinguish various perspectives and conflicts of values and interests related to sustainability issues and solutions promoting sustainable development, - reflect on their lifestyle and consumption choices, as well as professional practices in their field, from the perspectives of responsibility and sustainable development.

Content

- Historical context of the sustainability crisis and the complexity of sustainability challenges - Sustainable development as an idea(l), sustainability goals, and the related policy process - Sustainability transformation and ecological reconstruction - Dimensions of sustainable development and their interdependencies: environmental sustainability, social and cultural sustainability, economic sustainability

Materials

Available in itslearning.

Teaching methods

The Fundamentals of Sustainable Development (1 ECTS) is implemented as an online course, in which the students familiarise themselves with learning materials in text and video format and takes a test included in each subject section. Students study independently, without instruction from a teacher.

International connections

Sustainable development is at the core of the course. The aim is to address sustainable development in a manner that encourages participants to examine their own choices, habits and actions from the perspective of sustainability and to change their own habits in a more sustainable direction. The sustainability of the pedagogical implementation is enhanced by the fact that all learning materials are in digital format and the course is implemented entirely as remote/online learning.

Student workload

You will complete the nonstop course entirely independently on the course platform in ITSlearning online learning environment. The course has to be completed by 31.5.2026. The online course includes four tests based on learning materials. Familiarizing oneself with the course platform and instructions, reading and watching the learning materials, and taking the tests requires a total of ca. 27 hours of student work. That would mean on average 6-7 hours of work per subject section. The actual use of time depends partly on your starting level, i.e. how much you already know about sustainable development before starting the online course. Time use is also affected by how deeply you want to delve into the topics using the additional materials provided.

Qualifications

Non