Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development
We’re excited you’re here! This course, “Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development,” is the first course in the Sustainability and Development MasterTrack® Certificate, but you can also take this course as a stand-alone learning opportunity.
Sustainability and development pose unprecedented challenges as human societies grow and seek to ensure future wellbeing and prosperity. In this course, we’ll focus on addressing the twin challenges of sustainability and development with actionable knowledge for innovating solutions to the world’s most pressing problems like climate change, poverty and inequality, and biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation. Rather than sustainability being a qualifier for development (e.g. sustainable development), we conceptualize Sustainability and Development as co-equal fields of inquiry and action that seek to build bridges between the natural, social and applied sciences and the humanities. When sustainability and development are placed on an equal footing, it requires us to think more explicitly about the trade-offs, co-benefits and synergies between them, which we will be exploring in depth in each week.
Throughout the course, you will be introduced to the theoretical currents in Sustainability and Development, and will garner an in-depth understanding of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will also consider the methods and skills necessary for designing innovative solutions to sustainability and development problems through the emerging field of Sustainability Science.
In this course, we will explore three of the most pressing challenges undergirding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including climate change, poverty and inequality, and ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, with case studies to guide and challenge our thinking. In the final week of the course, we will discuss the trade-offs, co-benefits and synergies between these challenges, especially as they relate to designing innovative solutions for achieving our sustainability and development goals.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
1. Understand and explain the world’s most pressing problems with a specific focus on poverty & inequality, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, and climate change.
2. Critically analyze the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relationship to the world’s most pressing problems.
3. Use frameworks and evidence necessary to develop solutions.
4. Assess relevant solutions that would help realize the SDGs and at the same time solve the pressing problems.
5. Apply skills learned to implement solutions.
Status: Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics
Status: Economic Development
Economic Development
Beginner·Course·9 hours
Featured reviews
AP
5.0·Reviewed Oct 14, 2020
Course topics and materials are up to date. It even gives a sustainability and development lens on the Coronavirus and COVID-19 Pandemic
CT
5.0·Reviewed Dec 7, 2020
Really enjoyed this course! Great insight into addressing sustainability and learning about the SDG's. I believe it will help me greatly in my education and will help me live a more sustainable life.
PS
5.0·Reviewed Aug 29, 2020
Very nice and informative course with various examples with research from around the world. Thank you University of Michigan for the course.
LN
5.0·Reviewed Nov 25, 2021
very detailed, resourceful and contributes greatly to the knowledge needed to attain the sustainable development goals.
BB
4.0·Reviewed Oct 21, 2020
Very informative high level overview course that goes deep enough into key topics to make the theory quite practical.
JF
5.0·Reviewed Jun 8, 2020
I Loved this course, it was exactly what I was looking for in terms of content and the work load was perfect for me!
LJ
5.0·Reviewed May 30, 2020
This course is insightful and eye-opening. I certainly found it useful and would not hesitate to recommend anyone with interest in sustainability or development to attend.
FL
5.0·Reviewed Oct 14, 2020
It is a good practices for gathering a knowledge,, i am very thankful to arrange this types of courses by Michigan University..
AG
5.0·Reviewed May 15, 2020
Excellent. Got a broad view on implementation part. if possible start a course on Methodology to assess SDG indicators.
HE
5.0·Reviewed Oct 28, 2020
a great course! not stressing just the right amount of difficulty. they give so many references, articles, and reading materials for students to learn more than what they discussed.
HJ
4.0·Reviewed Jun 18, 2020
Evaluation exams needs to be more competitive and use of different questions when person opt for retest.
DT
4.0·Reviewed May 30, 2020
Good course . The SDG's are must learn for every person. It teaches you to think beyond the usual and act more sensitively towards the development of the society.
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P
Prottoy Roy
3.0
·Reviewed Apr 30, 2020
Content is fantastic. But I am not fully satisfied with all of the instructors. The basic problem that I have felt that while delivering theoretical lectures, the session should be more interactive, there should be clear real life examples and more lively environment so that a learner never feels bored for even a moment. It was a bit horrible experience about the performance of the University of Michigan, sorry to say.
L
LEE C G, John
5.0
·Reviewed May 30, 2020
This course is insightful and eye-opening. I certainly found it useful and would not hesitate to recommend anyone with interest in sustainability or development to attend.
R
R. M. Shaluka Heshan
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 17, 2020
Excellent course for everybody!! You can gain great knowledge about SDGs and modern day world's real problems and how to face them globally. Cheers!!!!
W
Wouter Verster
2.0
·Reviewed Jun 7, 2020
There were quite some technical issues with sound but equally slides that were very difficult to read. Though the information was clearly presented, the level of depth was a bit disappointing. The use of more live cases could have brought more dynamic to the course. As this is an area in which I work, I think that I did not benefit as much as I would have expected. As a European citizen, I was wondering if a US institution could really provide sufficient background given its administration's stance and skepticism on environmental and social issues. Of course, this institution cannot be held accountable for that.
M
Mohammad Kazi Foysal
2.0
·Reviewed Apr 25, 2020
Poor voice quality, noise, poor delivery!
P
Priyanka Chanda
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 28, 2020
This is a very relevant & informative course which helps us to understand sustainability and development beyond the SDGs as suggested by the name itself. I would highly recommend this course for all the sustainability enthusiasts. The teaching is very versatile and highly updated which gives a very clear picture of the current situation of our planet.
O
Oluwadare John Subomi
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 7, 2020
A brilliant expose (should I say) on the subject of sustainability and development. Learned a lot. I appreciate most of all the efforts of the Professors, Associate Professors, and other academic staff for pulling this together. Now I have an advantage because of you all. Cheers
S
Syed Muhammad Haroon
3.0
·Reviewed Oct 4, 2020
Extremely lengthy course...but overall the information was beneficial.
J
Johannes Vermeulen
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 27, 2020
This course is extremely insightful, although my career has primarily focused on wellbeing for the past 5 years, I now more than ever see the importance of knowledge pertaining to sustainability and to Development. If you want to get some vital information on the systems and operations of creating successful sustainability initiatives and the planning of development programs this course will steer you in the right direction. It is relevant and up to date.
Y
Yalda Sh
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 11, 2020
This course was incredibly helpful for understanding sustainability. The lectures was extraordinary good and useful, on a very well described pattern. I learned a lot and suggest it to anyone interested or works in the field of sustainability. I appreciate the contribution of the professors at University of Michigan.
T
Thian Qi Zhe
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 31, 2021
This course certainly has deepened my knowledge in sustainability and development. Its case studies are very thought-provoking with highly relevant real-world problems which is a plus for me. I highly recommend this course to those who are interested in pursuing a career or studies in SDG or STEM.
T
Trish Paterson
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 7, 2020
A highly informative course. Truly enjoyed taking it and learned an enormous amount. I look forward to taking more courses on the subject. Highly recommend the course for anyone who is interested in sustainability and development.
C
Ciara Thompson
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 7, 2020
Really enjoyed this course! Great insight into addressing sustainability and learning about the SDG's. I believe it will help me greatly in my education and will help me live a more sustainable life.
H
hans evan
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 1, 2020
This course is really great! It could increase our concern about this world, I hope you can enjoy your time while learning this course. After that, let's make our move to support the SDGs program
P
Poonam Solanki
5.0
·Reviewed Aug 29, 2020
Very nice and informative course with various examples with research from around the world. Thank you University of Michigan for the course.
G
GAURAV RAI
5.0
·Reviewed Aug 25, 2020
The concept of beyond the sustainable development goals helped me to learn the importance of environment and factors effecting environment.
S
Sachin S
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 25, 2020
A well designed course on sustainable, environment and the future. Highly recommended and thank you the Michigan University and the Team.
R
Ramesh Subedi
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 26, 2020
Excellent Course, This course help to successful implementation of SDG. Addressing Sustainability and Development for livelihood.
S
SANJANA PIMOLI 1833380
5.0
·Reviewed May 11, 2021
This is a very relevant and informative course that helps us to understand sustainability and development beyond the SDGs as suggested by the name itself. The program has taught me to see economic, social, and environmental development through the lens of climate change, poverty, and inequality. It provided me the guidance to identify and analyze the prevailing global issues and challenges which need to be addressed for a better and more sustainable future for all. I would highly recommend this course for individuals interested to learn more about sustainability and development.
V
Vasundhra Jain
5.0
·Reviewed Mar 26, 2021
The programme has taught me to see the economic, social and environmental development through the lens of climate change, poverty and inequality. It has also helped me understand the prevailing global issues and challenges which need to be addressed for a better and a more sustainable future for all. I really recommend this course for every individual to learn about SDGs and how to achieve them.
