GY468      Half Unit
Environment and Development: Sustainability, Technology and Business

This information is for the 2015/16 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Richard Perkins S413 and Mr Emanuele Campiglio S317

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in African Development, MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies and MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

Students who have not completed a course in first year undergraduate level Economics might find it useful to audit EC100 Economics A.

Course content

Environment-economy linkages and the concept of sustainable economic development; The 'source'-side: Resource availability for sustained economic growth; The 'sink'-side: Economic growth and the environment; Trade, investment and the environment; Measuring progress towards sustainability; Technological lock-in, innovation and system transformation; Corporate social responsibility: Drivers, strategy and outcomes.

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the MT.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the MT.

Indicative reading

E Neumayer, Weak versus Strong Sustainability: Exploring the Limits of Two Opposing Paradigms, 4th edn, Edward Elgar, 2013; M Blowfield and A Murray, Corporate Responsibility: A Critical Introduction, Oxford University Press, 3rd edition, 2014.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Student performance results

(2011/12 - 2013/14 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 21.5
Merit 38.5
Pass 32.3
Fail 7.7

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2014/15: 21

Average class size 2014/15: 3

Controlled access 2014/15: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Communication