Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

This module will be available to any student registered on a Newcastle University PGT programme in the social
sciences, arts or humanities. Post graduate students taking the course must have an undergraduate degree from
any social science, arts or humanities discipline

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

What are global sustainable futures and how might we achieve them? What does a sustainable environment and vibrant humanity mean to you? What are some of the obstacles to sustainable futures and how might we work toward removing them? And most importantly, what global issues are most important to you, and how can this module provide you with the concepts and skills you need to understand and address them – not just as a student, but in your professional life, and as a global citizen?

This module introduces students to key themes and issues in global sustainable futures and has the following aims:
1.       To foster critical thinking about sustainable futures and the interconnectedness of key challenges and solutions such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
2.       To equip students with the conceptual tools required for understanding, researching, critically engaging with, and proposing solutions for global sustainable futures.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module introduces students to the complex and interrelated challenges of sustainability. The core of the module encourages and enables students to think relationally and systematically about environmental, social, economic and political sustainability. Students are taken through three areas of focus, each of which is shown to be distinctive but also deeply connected to the others and to the complex and ‘wicked problems’ of global sustainable futures. Each section offers critical engagement with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, and focuses on cutting-edge research and innovation. These areas of focus are:
1)       People and Society
2)       Economy and Policy
3)       Politics and Security

In working through each of these areas students will be challenged to think about::
•       What are the most pressing future sustainability challenges for people and society, economy and policy, and politics and security?
•       What concepts can best help us understand future sustainability challenges for each area of focus? And how do our concepts shape the solutions we can envisage?
•       What knowledge and skills are needed for global sustainable futures, and what can be learned from research and best practice in each area of focus?

In and across each area of focus, students will be encouraged to think about the interlinked nature of global sustainable futures’ challenges and potential solutions. Seemingly discrete issues – climate and environmental change, war and conflict, poverty, inequality, housing, cities and economies – are studies as interwoven not isolated problems.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Upon completion of the module, students will develop a comprehensive critical understanding of:

1.       The major challenges surrounding global sustainable futures and potential solutions

2.       The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including their strengths and limitations

3.       The inextricable links between seemingly unconnected issues with regard to global sustainable futures

4.       Interdisciplinary perspectives and cutting-edge research on global sustainable futures

Intended Skill Outcomes

Upon completion of the module, students will be able to:
1.       Critically analyse global challenges facing different communities, stakeholders, and populations in specific empirical contexts from interdisciplinary perspectives.
2.       Develop problem-solving skills to address global sustainable challenges.
3.       Creatively and concisely communicate understanding of complex problems in person and in writing.
4.       Ability to use systems thinking to develop holistic understandings of complex problems.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

10x2hr classes. In each session, the first hour will be devoted to lecture-style teaching, with the second hour reserved for discussion and other interactive activities. These might include, for example, modelling and mapping, field trips, debates, depending on the topics covered.

The themes of the seminars will relate to the conceptual, methodological, and empirical issues outlined in the module aims. The module will begin with an introduction and module-wide framing of global sustainable futures before leading students through the three themes as outlined above.

The small group teaching and learning methods will enable students to develop employment related skills such as interpersonal communication, oral presentation, teamwork, planning and organising, information literacy, and problem solving.

Assessment-focused workshops will be held in addition to these classes, providing students with an opportunity to discuss the assessment tasks with the module leader.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

As well as assessing the depth of learning developed in the module relating to the current state of the research literature, the assessmnts develop and assess student's skills in relation to Newcastle University's Graduate Framework. Specifically,

- The oral assessment develops confidence, creativity, self-awareness, digital capability, engagement with real work challenges.
- The report will deepen written communication skills, curiosity, critical thinking and analysis skills.

General Notes

N/A