Development Studies Multi-Program Course

Sustainable Development in Context

⏱ Total Hours 45
🎓 Recommended Credits 3
📍 Location Florence, Italy
✓ Prerequisites None
🌍
Primary Discipline
Development Studies
Suggested Cross Listings Environmental Studies, International Relations, Political Science
Total Hours 45
Recommended Credits 3
Prerequisites / Requirements None

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) offer a roadmap for a global future that promotes human flourishing and healthy ecosystems. They are transdisciplinary in nature, spanning human rights, public health, education, gender, economics, energy, urban design, and ecology. Though the SDGs are global in their aim and vision, how they are engaged and achieved falls to individual nations and multi-national blocs such as the European Union. How are different macro-regions and countries seeking to uphold and advance the UN SDGs? Where is there innovation, success, and real progress? What are the challenges and obstacles—globally, regionally, and nationally? Using the local context as a living classroom and case study, this course examines the aspirations and realities embedded in the UN SDGs. Through lectures, field visits, and project work, students engage deeply with both theoretical frameworks and practical applications related to sustainable development, developing their analytical, research, and practical problem-solving skills and preparing themselves to engage effectively with the global sustainability agenda.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1
Identify and explain the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their historical context, and the key principles behind the global sustainability agenda.
Assessment: Quiz on SDG framework and history.
2
Evaluate the interconnectedness of the SDGs, analyzing how progress on one goal impacts others (e.g., climate action's role in eradicating poverty).
Assessment: Case study analyzing interdependencies of SDGs in the Italian context.
3
Assess the effectiveness of current SDG-related policies and initiatives at national and regional levels, identifying strengths, shortcomings, challenges, and opportunities.
Assessment: Research paper critically evaluating a national policy related to SDGs.
4
Design innovative, cross-sectoral solutions that address one or more SDGs, considering technological, social, and environmental factors.
Assessment: Group project proposing an innovative solution to an SDG challenge in the EU.
5
Formulate a compelling advocacy campaign to raise awareness and drive action for the SDGs, utilizing media, partnerships, and global frameworks.
Assessment: Presentation and written proposal for a campaign promoting SDG awareness and engagement.
20%
Class Discussions and Debates
Demonstrated engagement with assigned readings. Thoughtful contributions to class and Canvas discussions.
All LOs
10%
Quiz
Demonstrated understanding of SDG framework and history.
LO 1
20%
Research Paper
A 10–12-page critical analysis of one or several specific SDGs as they relate to the European Union. Though not required, comparison with the U.S. or other macro-regions is welcome.
LO 3
10%
Case Study
A 3-page analysis of interconnectedness and interdependencies of SDGs in the European Union.
LO 2
20%
Field Studies
Using class field visits, identify and analyze two examples (10% each) of how theory intersects with real-world situations.
LO 3
20%
Group Project and Presentation
Collaborative research on an SDG-related issue, solutions, and innovations (10%), and compelling articulation of findings with practical, action-oriented recommendations (10%).
LO 4, 5
1
Foundational Understanding of the SDGsCore principles, history, and framework of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their significance in global governance.
2
Linking SDGs to Global ChallengesInterconnectedness of the 17 SDGs and how addressing one goal often impacts others, with specific focus on cross-cutting issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, migration, and war.
3
Social, Economic, and Environmental Dimensions of SustainabilitySocial, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability and strategies for balancing these three pillars in the context of the SDGs.
4
Sustainable Development in PracticeEffectiveness of current policies, programs, and initiatives designed to advance the SDGs in the European Union (e.g., education, health, environment, gender equality).
5
Critical Evaluation of SDG Indicators and MeasurementMethodologies and challenges associated with measuring progress toward achieving the SDGs using indicators, data collection, and reporting mechanisms (e.g., UN Global Sustainable Development Report).
6
Role of Stakeholders in SDG AchievementRoles and responsibilities of key stakeholders—including governments, international organizations, private sector, NGOs, civil society, and individuals—in achieving the SDGs.
7
Ethics, Equity, and Justice in Achieving the SDGsEthical considerations involved in pursuing sustainable development, focusing on issues of equity, justice, and intergenerational responsibility.
8
Innovative Solutions for SDG ImplementationInnovative technologies, strategies, and partnerships that can accelerate progress toward achieving the SDGs, with particular attention to "leaving no one behind."
9
Local and Global Partnerships for SDGsThe role of global partnerships and local networks in achieving the SDGs, the challenges and opportunities of international cooperation, multi-stakeholder alliances, and local grassroots movements.
10
Political Economy of the SDGsThe political economy surrounding the SDGs, including the influence of international trade, economic policies, and corporate practices on the achievement of sustainable development objectives.
11
Climate Change and the SDGsLinks between climate change and the SDGs, particularly SDG 13 (climate action), and analyze the impacts of climate change on poverty, migration, and global health.
12
Advocacy and Communication for SDG AwarenessHow to develop effective advocacy strategies to raise awareness of the SDGs and mobilize action among different stakeholders, utilizing communication tools such as social media, campaigns, and public policy initiatives.
13
Global Health and SDG 3The relationship between SDG 3 (good health and well-being) and other SDGs, particularly the role of health systems in achieving sustainable development outcomes.
14
Cultural and Social Impacts of the SDGsHow the SDGs interact with local cultural values, social norms, and practices, and the challenges and opportunities of achieving sustainability in diverse cultural contexts.
Visits to major art museums, heritage institutions, and conservation laboratories to observe restoration practices
Guest lecture by an art conservator, curator, or heritage policy expert
Workshop on sustainability in museum and heritage management
Panel discussion on conservation ethics and cultural preservation in a global context
Seminar with heritage professionals exploring the intersection of tourism, authenticity, and accessibility
Using the city as a classroom is an integral element of education abroad, and this course will include several field visits, as well as assignments that prompt student to engage actively with their host context. Field visits vary across terms, but examples include those listed above.
Books Films and Recordings Articles and Reports
Barbier, Edward B. 2019. The Economics of Development and the Environment. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Caballero, Paula, and Patti Londoño. 2022. Redefining Development: The Extraordinary Genesis of Sustainable Development Goals. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
Chowdhury, G. G., and Sudatta Chowdhury. 2024. Information for Sustainable Development: Technology, People, and Society. London: Facet Publishing.
Hamburg, Doris A. 2018. "The Florence Floods of Today." In Flood in Florence, 1966: A Fifty-Year Retrospective, edited by Paul Conway and Martha O'Hara Conway, 1–19. Ann Arbor: Maize Books.
Khan, Shabir, and Rajneesh Narula. 2020. Rethinking Development: A Policy Approach to Achieving the SDGs. London: Routledge.
Pistoletto, Michelangelo. 2016. Hominitheism and Demopraxy.
Sachs, Jeffrey D. 2015. The Age of Sustainable Development. New York: Columbia University Press.
Steiner, G., ed. 2019. The Business of Sustainability: Building a Global Green Economy. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Brown, Nicolas. 2024. Blue Carbon: Nature's Hidden Power. Documentary.
Blue Marine Foundation. 2021. Blue Carbon – A New Conservation Frontier? Building Ambition for COP26. Conference Recording, June 9, 2022. YouTube Video.
Rossi, Gianfranco. 2016. Fuocoammare [Fire at Sea]. Golden Bear Award, Berlin International Film Festival.
Rech, Julia, and Ulf Röller. 2024. The European Dream – A Continent Is Sealing Itself Off. Video.
European Commission. 2019. Green Deal.
European Union. n.d. Next Generation EU.
IPCC. 2024. The Global Impact of Climate Change on Sustainable Development. Special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics). 2024. SDGs Report.
Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministry. Dipartimento per Pari Opportunità [Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Department for Equal Opportunities]. 2021. National Strategy for Gender Equality. 2021-2026.
United Nations DP. 2023. Localizing the SDGs: Community-Level Perspectives on Achieving Sustainable Development. United Nations Development Programme.
United Nations GP. 2024. Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Business in Achieving the SDGs. UN Global Compact.
United Nations SDGs Knowledge Platform. n.d.
United Nations. 2016. Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development.
United Nations. 2015. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN Resolution, September 15, 2015.
United Nations DESA. 2024. The Sustainable Development Goals Report. Annual report by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Wellness Foundation. 2023. "Italy Is Falling Behind in Achieving the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda."
Agyemang, Kofi, et al. 2020. "Sustainable Development Goals: A Critical Approach." Springer.
Baldi et al. [Bruschi, Piero; Campeggi, Stephanie; Egea, Teresa; Rivera, Diego; Obón, Conceptión, and Lenzi, Anna]. 2022. "The Renaissance of Wild Food Plants: Insights from Tuscany (Italy)." Foods. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/3/300
Bebbington, A., et al. 2019. "Sustainable Development Goals: A Critical Approach to Business and Industry." Journal of Business Ethics.
Cohen, M. J., and M. Bradshaw. 2020. "Sustainability in the Global Development Agenda: Critical Insights into the SDGs." Global Environmental Politics.
Falk, Richard. 2017. "Human Rights and the SDGs: A Global Perspective." Human Rights Quarterly.
Hickel, Jason. 2017. The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and Its Solutions. New York: Penguin Random House.
Morelli, Stefano, Alessandro Battistini, and William Frodella. 2015. "Clean and Renewable Energy from the Arno River: A Feasibility Study in the Province of Florence (Northern Italy)." Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana 35: 216–219.
Rockström, Johan, et al. 2009. "A Safe Operating Space for Humanity." Nature.
Scott, Matthew. 2023. "Adapting to Climate-related Human Mobility into Europe: Between Protection Agenda and the Deterrence Paradigm, or Beyond." European Journal of Migration and Law, March 7.