Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL1047: Global Sustainability Governance and Policy

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Module Aims

This module aims:

To introduce you to the critical sustainable development challenges facing policy makers on a global scale.
To familiarise you with the key rationale and argument for why delivering on the promise of sustainable development is reliant upon governance and policy.
To orientate you towards the key theoretical underpinnings of governance theory as they relate to global sustainable development challenges; including multi-level governance, network governance, regulatory governance, collaborative governance and urban governance.
To equip you with the skills of critical case analysis.
To introduce to a range of writing styles for highlighting the governance solutions to global sustainable development challenges.
To equip you with the skills and experiences of presenting your analysis and ideas in group settings.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate knowledge of sustainable development, governance, and policy key concepts, theoretical arguments and major academic texts; 2. assimilate taught materials and utilise them to analyse critical policy issues related to sustainable development.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. evidence understanding of contested ideas and concepts; 4. formulate critical arguments.
Personal and Key Skills	5. research, write and present analytical assignments effectively; 6. develop and present policy relevant recommendations based in analysis. 7. communicate arguments effectively through coursework submissions;

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

global policy challenges
Governance theoretical frameworks
Sustainable development - conceptual and policy responses
A historical institutionalist account of the MDGs, SDGs and critical targets
Eradicating poverty and hunger
Improving health
Ensuring access to clean water
Promoting clean energy
Creating sustainable cities
Preserving the oceans
Climate action
Lesson-drawing on policy responses

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
26.5	123.5

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	16.5	One-hour weekly lectures
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	10	One-hour weekly seminars
Guided Independent Study	73.5	Preparation and completion of coursework
Guided Independent Study	50	Preparation for tutorials

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Case study plan	250 words	1, 2, 3, 5	Written

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Case study report	70	1750 words	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	Written
Blog entry	30	750 words	2, 4, 5, 6	Written
	0
	0
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Case study report	Case study report (1750 words)	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	August/September reassessment period
Blog entry	Blog entry (750 words)	2, 4, 5, 6	August/September reassessment period

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Baker, S. (2015) Sustainable Development. London: Routledge.
Bevir, M. (2009) Key concepts in Governance. London: Sage.
Lafferty, M.W. (2004). Governance for Sustainable Development: the challenge of adapting form to function. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Russel, D. & Kirsop-Taylor, N. (eds.). (2022). The Edward Elgar Handbook of Governance for Sustainable Development. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.